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Annual thematic reports
Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
The Special Rapporteur, pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, has annually submitted a report to the Commission on Human Rights. Since the establishment of the Human Rights Council in 2006, reports are also presented to the Council during one of its annual sessions, pursuant to resolutions adopted by this body.
These reports contain a description of his/her activities and working methods, summaries of communications between the Special Rapporteur and Governments and, if appropriate, observations on the situation of the right to life in specific countries. Moreover, the Special Rapporteur includes in his/her report a general analysis of the phenomenon of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, as well as conclusions and recommendations in this respect.
The report is publicly discussed by the Council at its annual session, a discussion in which representatives of both Governments and non-governmental organizations actively participate and which so far has always led to the adoption of a resolution on the subject.
In 1996, for the first time, the Commission invited the Special Rapporteur to submit a report to the General Assembly (see table below) on the situation worldwide with regard to summary or arbitrary executions and his recommendations to combat the phenomenon. (Fact Sheet N.11)
Reports to the Human Rights Council (HRC)/Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
| Year | Report and related links | Subject of the report |
| 2023 53th session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/53/29 | Deaths in prisons |
| 2022 50th session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/50/34 | Medico-legal Death Investigations (MLDIs) |
| 2021 47th session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/47/33 | Reflection of mandate-holder Agnès Callamard on her work over the past five years as Special Rapporteur |
| 2020 44th session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/44/38 | Targeted killings through armed drones and the case of Iranian General Quassem Soleimani |
| 2019 41st session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/41/36 | Investigation, accountability and prevention of intentional state killings of human rights defenders, journalists and prominent dissidents) |
| A/HRC/41/CRP.1 | Annex to the Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions: Investigation into the unlawful death of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi | |
| A/HRC/41/36/Add.1 | Addendum - Observations on communications | |
| 2018 38th session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/38/44 | Armed non-State actors: the protection of the right to life |
| A/HRC/38/44/Add.3 | Addendum - Observations on communications | |
| 2017 35th session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/35/23 | Gender-sensitive approach to arbitrary killings |
| A/HRC/35/23/Add.2 | Addendum - Observations on communications | |
| 2016 32nd session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/32/39 | The right to life and the use of force by private security providers in law enforcement contexts |
| A/HRC/32/39/Add.3 | Addendum - Observations on communications | |
| A/HRC/32/39/Add.4 | Addendum - Revision of the United Nations Manual on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions | |
| 2016 31st session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/31/66 | Joint compilation report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions on practical recommendations for the proper management of assemblies, based on best practices and lessons learned |
| 2015 29th session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/29/37 | Use of information and communications technologies to secure the right to life |
| A/HRC/29/37/Add.5 | Addendum - Observations on communications | |
| 2014 26th session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/26/36 | Protection of the right to life during law enforcement - the need for domestic law reform; Remotely piloted aircraft or armed drones and emerging autonomous weapons systems |
| A/HRC/26/36/Add.2 | Addendum - Observations on communications | |
| 2013 23rd session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/23/47 | Lethal autonomous robotics and the protection of life |
| A/HRC/23/47/Add.5 | Addendum - Observations on communications | |
| 2012 20th session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/20/22 | Protection of the right to life of journalists |
| A/HRC/20/22/Corr.1 | Corrigendum | |
| A/HRC/20/22/Add.4 | Addendum - Observations on communications | |
| 2011 17th session of the Human Rights Council |
A/HRC/17/28 | Protecting the right to life in the context of policing assemblies |
| A/HRC/17/28/Add.1 | Addendum - Communications to and from Governments | |
| A/HRC/14/24/Add.1 | Addendum - Communications to and from Governments | |
| A/HRC/14/24/Add.6 | Addendum - Study on targeted killings | |
| A/HRC/14/24/Add.7 | Addendum - Election - related violence and killings | |
| A/HRC/14/24/Add.8 | Addendum - Study on police oversight mechanisms | |
| 2009 11th session of the Human Rights Council (June 2009) |
A/HRC/11/2 | Responding to reprisals against individuals assisting the Special Rapporteur in his work; Upholding the prohibition against the execution of juvenile offenders; The killing of witches; The use of lethal force in the process of policing public assemblies |
| A/HRC/11/2/Add.1 | Addendum – Communications to and from Governments | |
| 2008 8th session of the human rights council |
A/HRC/8/3 | Role of national commissions of inquiry in impunity for extrajudicial executions; Right to seek pardon or commutation of a death sentence; Prisoners running prisons |
| A/HRC/8/3/Corr.1 | Addendum - Corrigendum | |
| 2007 4th session of the Human Rights Council (March 2007) |
A/HRC/4/20 | The mandate of the Special Rapporteur in armed conflicts; Imposing the death penalty only for the "most serious crimes"; The prohibition of the mandatory death penalty |
| A/HRC/4/20/Add.1 | Communications to and from Governments | |
| 2006 62nd session CHR |
E/CN.4/2006/53 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
| E/CN.4/2006/53/Add.1 | Communications to and from Governments | |
| E/CN.4/2006/53/Add.3 | Report on transparency on the death penalty | |
| 2005 61st session CHR |
E/CN.4/2005/7 E/CN.4/2005/7/Corr.1 |
Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
| E/CN.4/2005/7/Add.1 | Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received | |
| 2004 60th session CHR |
E/CN.4/2004/7 E/CN.4/2004/7/Corr.1 |
Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
| E/CN.4/2004/7/Add.1 | Summary or arbitrary executions - Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial. Summary of cases transmitted and replies received | |
| 2003 59th session CHR |
E/CN.4/2003/3 | Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Report of the Special Rapporteur |
| E/CN.4/2003/3/Add.1 | Summary or arbitrary executions - Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial. Summary of cases transmitted and replies received | |
| 2002 58th session CHR |
E/CN.4/2002/74 | Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions - Report of the Special Rapporteur |
| E/CN.4/2002/74/Add.2 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions - Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received | |
| 2001 57th session CHR |
E/CN.4/2001/9/Corr.1 | Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions - Report of the Special Rapporteur |
| E/CN.4/2001/9/Add.1 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received | |
| 2000 56th session CHR |
E/CN.4/2000/3 | Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions - Report of the special rapporteur |
| E/CN.4/2000/3/Add.1 | Extrajudicial and summary executions - Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received | |
| 1999 55th session CHR |
E/CN.4/1999/39 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
| E/CN.4/1999/39/Add.1 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on the extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions: country situations | |
| 1998 54th session CHR |
E/CN.4/1998/68 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
| E/CN.4/1998/68/Add.1 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Country situations | |
| 1997 53rd session CHR |
E/CN.4/1997/60 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on the extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
| E/CN.4/1997/60/Add.1 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on the extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions: country situations | |
| 1996 52nd session CHR |
E/CN.4/1996/4 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions: country situations |
| 1995 51st session CHR |
E/CN.4/1995/61 | Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions: Report by the Special Rapporteur: Country situations |
| 1994 50th session CHR |
E/CN.4/1994/7 | Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions: Report by the Special Rapporteur. Country situations |
| 1993 49th session CHR |
E/CN.4/1993/46 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions: Country situations |
| 1992 48th session CHR |
E/CN.4/1992/30 | Summary or arbitrary executions: Report by the Special Rapporteur |
| 1991 47th session CHR |
E/CN.4/1991/36 | Summary or arbitrary executions: Report by the Special Rapporteur |
| 1990 46th session CHR |
E/CN.4/1990/22 | Summary or arbitrary executions: Report by the Special Rapporteur |
| 1989 45th session CHR |
E/CN.4/1989/25 | Summary or arbitrary executions: Report by the Special Rapporteur |
| 1988 44th session CHR |
E/CN.4/1988/22 | Summary or arbitrary executions: Report by the Special Rapporteur |
| 1987 43rd session CHR |
E/CN.4/1987/20 | Summary or arbitrary executions: Report by the Special Rapporteur |
| 1986 42nd session CHR |
E/CN.4/1986/21 | Summary or arbitrary executions: Report by the Special Rapporteur |
| 1985 41st session CHR |
E/CN.4/1985/17 | Summary or arbitrary executions: Report by the Special Rapporteur |
| 1984 40th session CHR |
E/CN.4/1984/29 | Summary or arbitrary executions: Report by the Special Rapporteur |
|
1983 |
E/CN.4/1983/16 |
Summary or arbitrary executions: Report by the Special Rapporteur |
| E/CN.4/1983/16/Add.1 E/CN.4/1983/Add.1/Corr.1 |
Summary or arbitrary executions: Communications from Governments |
Reports to the GA
| Year | Report and related links | Subject of the report |
| 2023 78th session of the General Assembly |
A/78/254 | Investigation of femicide as a means of identifying, seeking accountability for and helping to prevent this global scourge |
| 2022 77th session of the General Assembly |
A/77/270 | Reflection on the 40-year anniversary of the establishment of the mandate |
| 2021 76th session GA |
A/76/264 | Vision report |
| 2020 75th session GA |
A/75/384 | Human rights standards and possible steps towards the respectful and lawful handling of mass graves |
| 2019 74th session GA |
A/74/318 | Application of the death penalty to foreign nationals and the provision of consular assistance by the home State |
| 2018 73rd session GA |
A/73/314 | Saving lives is not a crime |
| 2017 72nd session GA |
A/72/335 | Unlawful death of refugees and migrants |
| 2016 71st session GA |
A/71/372 | Review and update of some of the issues considered between 2010-2016 |
| 2015 70th session GA |
A/70/304 | The role of forensics investigations in protecting the right to life; the application of the death penalty to foreign nationals |
| 2014 69th session GA |
A/69/265 | The role of regional human rights systems; less lethal and unmanned weapons in law enforcement; resumptions of the death penalty; and the role of statistical indicators) |
| 2013 68th session GA |
A/68/382 Corrigendum |
Armed drones and the right to life |
| 2012 67th session GA |
A/67/275 | Restrictions on the death penalty |
| 2011 66th session GA |
A/66/330 | Protection of the right to life in the context of arrests |
| 2010 65th session GA |
A/65/321 | New technologies and human rights fact-finding, targeted killings and accountability, and extrajudicial executions and robotic technologies |
| 2009 64th session GA |
A/64/187 | Vigilante killings and mob justice |
| 2008 63rd session GA |
A/63/313 | The role of witness protection in ending the cycle of impunity for extrajudicial executions; Making military justice systems human rights compatible |
| 2006 61st session GA |
A/61/311 | Interim report on the worldwide situation in regard to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
| 2004 59th session GA |
A/59/319 | Interim report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
| 2002 57th session GA |
A/57/138 | Interim report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
| 2000 55th session GA |
A/55/288 | Interim report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
| 1999 54th session GA |
A/54/660 | Situation of human rights in East Timor |
| 1998 53rd session GA |
A/53/337 | Note by the Secretary-General on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
| 1996 51st session GA |
A/51/457 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
| A/51/538/Add.1 | The situation of human rights in Nigeria | |
| A/51/538 | Joint report on the situation of human rights in Nigeria of the Special Rapporteurs on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and on the independence of judges and lawyers |