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International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

 

international_slavery_day.jpgThe International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition was first initiated in 1998 by UNESCO. It is intended to inscribe the tragedy of the slave trade in the memory of all peoples. The date is of particular importance: In the night of 22 to 23 August 1791, an uprising began in today's Haiti that played a crucial role in the abolition of transatlantic slave trade. Every year, cultural activities are organized around the globe to remember this event. UNESCO's "Slave Route" project helps to understand the history of slave trade and therewith fills the silence of the past.

HR Treaty Bodies Newsletter

hrtd_newsletter_cover.jpg Check out the latest Human Rights Treaty Bodies Newsletter!

 The Newsletter features analysis, interviews, reports from the field and ways to engage with the Human Rights Treaty division of OHCHR. 

Special Procedures PDF

The Special Procedures address specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They were established by the Commission for Human Rights and renewed by the Human Rights Council. Currently, there are 29 thematic areas and 9 country mandates.

Special procedures refer either to an individual: “Special Rapporteur”, “Special Representative of the Secretary-General”, “Representative of the Secretary-General” or “Independent Expert”; or to a working group usually composed of five members (one from each region). Mandate-holders must have an independent status and they cannot be in a given function any longer than six years.

Amongst their activities, most Special Procedures receive information on specific allegations of human rights violations and ask governments for clarification. Mandate-holders also carry out country visits to investigate the situation of human rights at the national level. Mandate-holders normally send a letter to the Government requesting to visit the country and: if the Government agrees, an invitation to visit is extended. Some countries have issued “standing invitations”, which means that they are, in principle, prepared to receive a visit from any special procedures mandate-holder. After their visits, mandate-holders issue a mission report with their recommendations.

Country mandates are special procedures which examine, monitor, advice and report on human rights situations in specific countries or territories.

Thematic mandates entail an investigation, related to a specific issue, on human rights violations worldwide. Special procedure can also undertake many different activities, including responding to individual complaints, conducting studies, providing advice on technical cooperation at the country level and so on.

As of May 2008, all thematic mandates reviewed have been extended and some new thematic mandates have been established - namely mandates on contemporary forms of slavery and access to safe drinking water and sanitation. In addition, most country mandates have been extended.