Monday, October 22, 2007

Appointment of new Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples

Dear friends,

This is to inform you that, during its last session in September 2007, the Human Rights Council (HRC) decided upon the criteria for the nomination for special procedures mandate-holders (decision 6-102, only available in English). These criteria, as well as the procedure that was formally adopted by the HRC at its June session (Resolution 5/1), will guide the replacement of those mandate-holders who have already completed their 6 year-term. This includes the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people.

Appointment procedure

As adopted by the Council, the new nomination procedure includes the following phases:

a) Preparation of a public list of eligible candidates by the Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

b) Proposition of short list of candidates to the President by a Consultative Group (appointed by the Regional Groups)

c) Presentation of candidates by the President to the HRC.

d) Endorsement of candidates by the HRC.

Requirements

According to the list of technical and objective requirements adopted by the HRC, candidates should meet the following requirements:

a) Qualifications: relevant educational qualifications or equivalent professional experience in the field of human rights; good communications skills in one of the official languages of the United Nations.

b) Relevant expertise: knowledge of international human rights instruments, norms and principles; as well as knowledge of institutional mandates related to the United Nations or other international or regional organization's work in the area of human rights; proven work experience in the field of human rights.

c) Established competence: nationallity, regionally or internationally recognized competence related to human rights.

d) Flexibility, readiness and availability of time to perform effectively the fhe functions of the mandate and to respond to its requirements, including attending Human Rights Council sessions.
Submission of eligible candidates

It is important to note that the candidatures for special procedures mandates may be submitted by Governments, regional groups, international organizations (incl. OHCHR), non-governmental organizations, other human rights bodies, and individuals [Note that academic institutions cannot as such submit candidates, but only academics or their individual capacity].

The names of the candidates should reach the Secretariat at the following address: hrcspecialprocedures@ohchr.org (mailing address HRC Secretariat, c/o Orest Nowosad, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right, Room PW 4-903, UNOG, CH 1211 Geneva; fax: +41(0)22 917 90 11)

Timing

The new Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people is expected to be appointed by the HRC during its 7th session in March 2008. The Consultative Groups will submit the short list of candidates to the President by the beginning of February 2008 and will consult the public list of candidates in the weeks before. All relevant stakeholders are thus invited to submit their candidates at their earliest convenience.

Luis Rodríguez-Piñero Royo
Human Rights Officer
Special Procedures Branch
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Tel. + 41 - 22 917 91 34; fax + 41 - 22 917 60 10
Email: lrodriguez-pinero@ohc

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