Support to UN Special Procedures

Started in June 2020

The United Nations (UN) Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council are a unique mechanism of independent expert advice and monitoring in the UN human rights system. Mandated to report regularly to the Council and the UN General Assembly on thematic issues and country situations, they are less bound by governmental considerations or institutional constraints. As such, these UN experts are the most outspoken players in the system.

TACKLING CROSSCUTTING ISSUES

All Special Procedures face a number of challenges in the implementation of their mandates. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ensures coordination, but the mandate holders themselves are not staff of the UN and are not based in Geneva.

The Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) offers them additional opportunities to engage with each other and with other parts of the UN system via an annual meeting on a topic of common concern, as well as via institutional discussions on thematic issues, working methods, impact assessment and other methodological issues. These meetings support UN Special Procedures in tackling common challenges, improving their work and impact and elaborating joint positions or statements.

Evaluating their Impact

Via dedicated research, the GHRP supports UN Special Procedures in measuring the impact of their work to promote and protection of human rights – in a given country or in relation to a specific right – along with the effectiveness of their interventions and activities.

This evaluation assessment is vital to determining the efficacy of a mandate’s work and its outcomes will support decision-making and provide guidance for future undertakings, and resource allocation.

The research develops proposals contained within the publication ‘Towards Transversal Standards to Evaluate the Impact of UN Special Procedures’, which stemmed from an initial Expert Meeting convened to discuss enhancing the existing evaluation and measurement framework in place.

Following an initial mapping of existing evaluation practices, the GHRP elaborates – in consultation with UN Special Procedures – an overarching methodological framework that incorporates measurement tools and indicators that can deliver an objective, detailed overall analysis of impact.

The first step in this process is the development of a new working paper Assessment Tool for Special Procedures' Impact Evaluation – Developing an Initial Framework that examines how to further develop methodologies to appraise the impact of UN Special Procedures, and which resources might most effectively be deployed to further their work in promoting and protecting human rights.

SUPPORTING SPECIFIC MANDATES

The special relationship with a number of mandates and mandate holders results in reinforced support to these mandates via dedicated research projects, dissemination of research outputs, support to specific activities, structural support, joint initiatives and conferences.

The GHRP directly supports the UN SR on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association – who is conducting a research project on promoting and protecting the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association and civic space worldwide at the Geneva Academy – in dissemination, outreach and networking activities. Similar support is also provided to the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rightsvia specific research hosted at the Geneva Academy.

In addition, the GHRP regularly collaborates with other UN SRs, including the UN SR on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the SR on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

ADOPTING AN ‘ALL-MECHANISMS’ APPROACH

Enhancing the interactions and connection between UN Special Procedures mandate holders and members of UN treaty bodies (TBs), the online platform created in 2021 for exchanges between TBs is opening up to Un Special Procedures to offer a private space for substantive discussions among all human rights experts on UN mandates.

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Special Rapporteur name plate at the UN Human Rights Council News

Research Provides Critical Insights to Understand the Impact of Interventions by UN Special Procedures

16 January 2023

Our new working paper Assessment Tool for Special Procedures' Impact Evaluation – Developing an Initial Framework examines how to further develop methodologies to appraise the impact of UN Special Procedures.

Read more >

Press briefing by the Commission of Inquiry on the 2018 protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Palais des Nations. 28 February 2019. News

New Paper Discusses the Impact of United Nations Special Procedures

12 April 2021

Our new Working Paper Towards Transversal Standards to Evaluate the Impact of UN Special Procedures discusses the impact of UN Special Procedures, reviews progress made to measure it, and proposes avenues to improve this assessment.

Read more >

TEAM

Picture of Felix Kirchmeier

Felix Kirchmeier

Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform

Felix Kirchmeier is the Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

Picture of Domenico Zipoli

Domenico Zipoli

Project Coordinator and Research Fellow

His research focuses on the question of connectivity among international human rights mechanisms and on national strategies for monitoring, implementation and follow-up of international human rights obligations and recommendations.

PIcture of Clément Voule

Clément Voule

Researcher

Clément Nyaletsossi Voule is Researcher at the Geneva Academy and UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association.

Picture of Stefania Di Stefano

Stefania Di Stefano

Project Officer at the Geneva Human Rights Platform

Her research includes international human rights law, business and human rights, human rights in the digital age, corporate responsibility, and the rights to freedom of expression and access to information.

OUTPUT

Evaluating the Impact of UN Special Procedures' Visits, Recommendations and Inquiries

During an online expert meeting, more than 20 United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteurs and members of UN working groups, as well as staff from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), civil society representatives and lawyers explored how the impact of UN Special Procedures’ visits, recommendations and inquiries can be effectively measured and evaluated.

Discussions at this meeting, interviews and the collection of evidence via a questionnaire to all mandate holders led to the publication of two working papers: ‘Towards Transversal Standards to Evaluate the Impact of UN Special Procedures’, published in 2021 and ‘Assessment Tool for Special Procedures' Impact Evaluation – Developing an Initial Framework’ in 2022.

GUIDANCE TO THE FUTURE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY

In the course of an online expert meeting convened in 2021 with civil society organizations and academics, participants provided insights and guidance as to how the next mandate holder could take forward pressing issues for the right to privacy. The discussion also focused on how different stakeholders could facilitate the work of the mandate, and which challenges should be prioritised given resource restraints. The results of this engagement and dialogue have been outlined in a research briefing.

Applying a ‘gender lens’ to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

At a consultation hosted for the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Business and Human Rights (WG), academics, representatives of international organizations, members of UN treaty bodies, the private sector, business associations and civil society discussed key issues and challenges related to the application of a ‘gender lens’ to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UN Guiding Principles).

The consultation was also the occasion to present the Geneva Academy's publication Responsive Due Diligence for Business Actors: Human Rights-Based Approaches – the outcome of research aimed at supporting the WG’s consultation process to apply a ‘gender lens’ to the UN Guiding Principles and thus contribute the promotion and protection of human rights and gender equality in relation to the business sector via research on international human rights law and policies related to gender equality guarantees and their application to business activities.

Publications

Cover of the publication

Assessment Tool for Special Procedures' Impact Evaluation – Developing an Initial Framework

January 2023

Jonathan Andrew

The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

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cover of the publication

Towards Transversal Standards to Evaluate the Impact of UN Special Procedures

February 2021

Jonathan Andrew

The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

Download >

Cover of the Briefing

Briefing No°12: Gender Responsive Due Diligence for Business Actors: Human Rights-Based Approaches

December 2018

Joanna Bourke Martignoni, Elizabeth Umlas

Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

Download >

Past Events

Possible Priorities for the Next UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy

16 April 2021

Read more >

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GHRP Bologna Meeting News

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Our Annual Report provides an overview of the activity of the Geneva Academy in 2023.

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10-11 October 2024

The aim of the book launch/symposium is to present a selection of chapters from the Oxford Handbook on LGBTI Law, and to bring together some of the world's leading academic experts in this field.

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A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System: Raising the Bar on Accountability

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This training course will explore the origin and evolution of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its functioning in Geneva and will focus on the nature of implementation of the UPR recommendations at the national level.

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This project addresses the human rights implications stemming from the development of neurotechnology for commercial, non-therapeutic ends, and is based on a partnership between the Geneva Academy, the Geneva University Neurocentre and the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. 

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Session of a UN Treaty Body Project

Treaty Bodies Individual Communications Procedures

Started in January 2019

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Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

Navigating Pathways Toward Transitional Justice in Ukraine

published on October 2024

Robin van der Lugt, Chhime Namdol Sherpa

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Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

Beyond Power and Politics: Engaging Russia in a Fractured Multilateral Order

published on September 2024

Robin van der Lugt, Chhime Sherpa

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