Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
Annual thematic reports
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Each year the Working Group reports to the Human Rights Council on its activities. In the report, the Working Group will express its observations on the different institutions, legal insufficiencies, policies, judicial practices which, in its opinion, are the cause for the occurrence of cases of arbitrary deprivation of liberty, and on best practices safeguarding against arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
Reports include the following annexes or addenda: reports on country visits.
See all reports and documents relating to the Working Group.
| Year | Title | Symbol number |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Annual report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention In this report, the Working Group reviews its annual activities and examines the thematic issue of arbitrary detention and mandatory sentencing | A/HRC/57/44 |
| 2023 | Annual report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention In this report, the Working Group reviews its annual activities and examines the following thematic issues: arbitrary detention and laws on spreading disinformation; arbitrary detention and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic; and deprivation of liberty of environmental human rights defenders | A/HRC/54/51 |
| 2022 | Annual report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention In this report, the Working Group reviews its annual activities and examines the following thematic issues: secret detention; arbitrary detention and the principles of effective interviewing for investigations and information-gathering; and deprivation of liberty of older persons. | A/HRC/51/29 |
| 2021 | Annual report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention In this report, the Working Group reviews its annual activities and examines the following thematic issues: deprivation of liberty of human rights defenders, forcible transfers of individuals and prohibition of arbitrary detention, and the Declaration against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State relations. | A/HRC/48/55 |
| 2020 | Annual report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention In this report, the Working Group reviews its annual activities and examines the following thematic issues: women deprived of liberty, the right to legal assistance in preventing arbitrary deprivation of liberty, modern technologies and alternatives to detention. | A/HRC/45/16 |
| 2019 | Annual report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention In this report, the Working Group reviews its annual activities and examines the following thematic issues: deprivation of liberty in the context of conscientious objection to military service, use of registers to avoid arbitrary detention, use of the Working Group’s opinions in domestic proceedings, and comprehensive reparations to victims of arbitrary detention. | A/HRC/42/39 |
| 2018 | Annual report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention In this report, the Working Group reviews its annual activities and considers the issue of consular assistance and diplomatic protection for persons deprived of liberty. It also examines the linkages between arbitrary detention and instances of torture and ill-treatment. | A/HRC/39/45 |
| 2017 | Annual report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention In this report, the Working Group reviews its annual activities and examines the issue of deprivation of liberty on discriminatory grounds. It also analyzes issues relating to the increasing number of new regimes of deprivation of liberty that arise in different situations and contexts around the world. | A/HRC/36/37 |
| 2016 | Annual report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention In this report, the Working Group reviews its annual activities and shares various other amendments and recommendations. | A/HRC/33/50 |
| 2015 | Annual report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention In this report, the Working Group analyzes issues relating to detention in the context of drug control and to peaceful protests and arbitrary detention, and emphasizes the need of remedies for arbitrary detention as an imperative norm of international human rights law. | A/HRC/30/36 |
| Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention: United Nations Basic Principles and Guidelines on remedies and procedures on the right of anyone deprived of their liberty to bring proceedings before a court | A/HRC/30/37 | |
| 2014 | Annual report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention A compilation of national, regional and international laws, regulations and practices on the right to challenge the lawfulness of detention before court. | A/HRC/27/47 |
| Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | A/HRC/27/48 | |
| 2013 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | A/HRC/22/44 |
| 2012 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | A/HRC/19/57 |
| 2011 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | A/HRC/16/47 |
| 2010 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | A/HRC/13/30 |
| 2009 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | A/HRC/10/21 |
| 2008 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | A/HRC/7/4 |
| 2007 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | A/HRC/4/40 |
| 2006 | Joint Report on the situation of detainees at Guantánamo Bay | E/CN.4/2006/120 |
| Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/2006/7 | |
| 2005 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/2005/6 |
| 2004 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/2004/3 |
| 2003 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/2003/8 |
| 2002 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/2002/77 |
| 2001 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/2001/14 |
| 2000 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/2000/4 |
| 1999 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/1999/63 |
| 1998 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/1998/44 |
| 1997 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/1997/4 |
| 1996 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/1996/40 |
| 1995 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/1995/31 |
| 1994 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/1994/27 |
| 1993 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/1993/24 |
| 1992 | Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention | E/CN.4/1992/20 |