Guide to International Human Rights Mechanisms - Brookings

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International Mechanisms | UN Bodies
submitting communications, but at a minimum, information provided must include the name of
the person whose rights have been infringed, identification of the perpetrators, identification of the
person submitting the communication, the date and place of the incident described, and a detailed
description of the circumstances.
Procedure When a communication is received with adequate information, the Special Rapporteur
will forward it to the government with a request for its response and, in the case of urgent appeals,
immediate action to forestall the violation of rights.
Potential result The Special Rapporteur may issue an urgent appeal or allegation letter to the
government expressing her concern. Summaries of each such communication and any governmental
replies are submitted to the Council (and thus made publicly available) with the Special Rapporteur’s
annual report (but are considered confidential until that time and are not shared with authors of
communications beforehand).
send communications to:
Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 90 03
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org (include the name of mechanism in the subject line)
for more information
The Special Rapporteur’s website: www.ohchr.org/english/issues/religion/index.htm
Front Line Defenders Guide: www.frontlinedefenders.org/manual/en/index_fexpr.html
Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion
and Expression
Background This Special Rapporteur addresses freedom of opinion and expression as well as the
subsidiary rights to seek, receive and impart information. He has three major activities: country visits,
transmitting communications concerning the right to freedom of opinion and expression (including
“urgent appeals” for imminent violations and “allegation letters” where the violation has already
occurred), and reporting to the Human Rights Council (page 49) and the General Assembly.
What you can Do You can submit communications about violations of the right to freedom of
expression and seek the Special Rapporteur’s intervention. Where appropriate, you may also suggest
that the Special Rapporteur undertake a country visit for extended dialogue with authorities and
other parties on this issue.
Guide to International Human Rights Mechanisms
for Internally Displaced Persons and their Advocates 8