Collective letter on criteria for UN Special Procedures nominations

Publish Date: 
Tuesday, October 15, 2013

In light of the upcoming appointment of several new mandate-holders to the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, ESCR-Net submitted a collective letter to the Consultative Group of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) on 14 October, regarding the criteria for the selection of new experts to serve as mandate-holders.

The letter offered some principles for the consideration of the Consultative Group, in their work of identifying and recommending nominees for the UN Special Procedures to the President of the Council. More information about the process for nominations for the UN Special Procedures is available here.

Building on the criteria established in HRC Resolution 5/1, as well as HRC Decision 6/102 and HRC Resolution 16/21, the letter underscored the need for strong, merit-based candidates that fulfill the criteria of (a) expertise; (b) experience in the field of the mandate; (c) independence; (d) impartiality; (e) personal integrity; and (f) objectivity.

See here for the complete letter.