Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity

Purpose of the mandate

International solidarity is the expression of a spirit of unity among individuals, peoples, civil society actors, businesses, States, and international organization to pursue networked multilateralism promoting social cohesion and trust.

The principle of International Solidarity is the expression of consciousness about the interconnectedness of peoples and generations in the act of recognition of the rights of others and shared agency and responsibility to cooperate with each other to address common challenges and protect global public goods.

The general objective of international solidarity is to create an enabling environment for:

• Realizing the right of civil society to express transformative empathy on behalf of vulnerable people in other countries who may be unable to participate in discourses addressing their human rights on account of oppression, marginalization, and exclusion.
• Engendering trust and mutual respect between States and non-State actors to foster peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights;
• Promoting a social and international order in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized.
• Preventing and removing the causes of asymmetries and inequities between and within States, and the structural obstacles that generate and perpetuate poverty and inequality worldwide

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About the mandate

The mandate of the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity was created in 2005 by the predecessor of the Human Rights Council, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (see resolution 2005/55). The Human Rights Council extended the mandate for a further period of three years in 2014 (resolution 26/6), in 2017 (resolution 35/3), and in 2020 (resolution 44/11) and in 2023 (resolution 53/5).

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The mandate can act on information submitted to the Independent Expert regarding alleged violations of the right to engage in international solidarity actions, as well as communications on past alleged cases of violations of a person or group’s right to express international solidarity by sending urgent appeals and communications to concerned States and other relevant stakeholders to clarify and/or bring this information to their attention (see Submitting complaints)

Current mandate holder

Cecilia M. Bailliet assumed her functions as Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity on 1 November 2023. Ms. Bailliet is Professor Dr. jur, Director of the Masters Program in International Law at the University of Oslo in Norway. She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has a combined J.D./M.A. (honours) degree from The George Washington University Law School and Elliott School of International Affairs (U.S.A). She received her Doctorate in law from the University of Oslo in Norway.

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