Universal-Womens-accesss-to-justice-Publications-Practitioners-Guide-Series-2016-ENG

348 PRACTITIONERS GUIDE No. 12
depends on the subject-matter which the mandate-holder is
charged to consider. 947
Conformity criteria: The communications (1) should not be
manifestly unfounded or politically motivated; (2) should
contain a factual description of the alleged violations of human
rights; (3) the language of the communication should not be
abusive; (4) and the communication should not be exclusively
based on reports disseminated by mass media. 948 There is no
need to exhaust domestic remedies. 949
Channels of communication: Mandate-holders address all
their communication to the concerned government through
diplomatic channels, unless otherwise agreed between the
individual government and the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights. 950 Mandate-holders are not required to
inform those who provide information about any subsequent
measure they have taken. They may, however, acknowledge
receipt of the information and provide an indication of
outcomes and follow-up, and may choose to provide some
information, although normally not involving disclosure of the
specific contents of communication with governments, unless
an issue has been definitively dealt with by the government in
question. 951
Confidentiality: Mandate-holders take all feasible precautions
to ensure that sources are not subject to retaliation. 952 In
communications sent to governments, the source is normally
kept confidential. An information source may, however, request
947
Ibid., para. 28.
948
Article 9(a), (b), (c) and (e), Code of Conduct, op. cit., fn. 1510.
949
Manual of Operations, op. cit., fn. 1509, para. 42.
950
Article 14, Code of Conduct, op. cit., fn. 1510; Manual of
Operations, op.cit., fn. 1509, para. 28.
951
Manual of Operations, op. cit., fn. 1509, para. 25.
952
Ibid., para. 27.