Mandate

After being established in 2015 (A/HRC/RES/28/16) the mandate was renewed for a period of three years in March 2018 (A/HRC/RES/37/2); renewed again for three years in March 2021 (A/HRC/RES/46/16) and most recently renewed in March 2024 (A/HRC/RES/55/3) for another three years under the same terms as its resolution 46/16 of 23 March 2021: 1. Decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy for a period of three years, whose tasks will include:

(a) To gather relevant information, including on international and national frameworks, national practices and experience, to study trends, developments and challenges in relation to the right to privacy, as set out in article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to make recommendations to ensure its promotion and protection, including in connection with the challenges arising from new and emerging technologies;

(b) To seek, receive and respond to information, while avoiding duplication, from States, the United Nations and its agencies, programmes and funds, regional human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, the private sector, including business enterprises, and any other relevant stakeholders or parties;

(c) To identify possible obstacles to the promotion and protection of the right to privacy and to identify, exchange and promote principles and best practices at the national, regional and international levels and to submit proposals and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in that regard, including with a view to particular challenges arising in the digital age and during the design, development and deployment of new and emerging technologies;

(d) To participate in and contribute to relevant international conferences and events with the aim of promoting a systematic and coherent approach to issues pertaining to the mandate;

(e) To raise awareness concerning the importance of promoting and protecting the right to privacy, including with a view to the particular challenges arising in the digital age, and concerning the importance of providing individuals whose right to privacy has been violated with access to an effective remedy, consistent with international human rights obligations;

(f) To integrate a gender perspective and the principle of non-discrimination throughout the work of the mandate;

(g) To report on alleged violations, wherever they may occur, of the right to privacy, as set out in article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including in connection with the challenges arising from new and emerging technologies, and to draw the attention of the Human Rights Council and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to situations of particularly serious concern;

(h) To submit an annual report to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly;

(i) To cooperate with other special procedure mandate holders and the Envoy of the Secretary-General on Technology, in accordance with their mandates;