Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: A global petition in support of the system of Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council was opened on 6 March 2007 on a dedicated site.
A global petition in support of the system of Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council was opened on 6 March 2007 See also Arabic, French and Spanish Several governments are using the review of the Special Procedures that is under ways within the HR Council as an opportunity to make proposals which would cripple the ability of all the Special Procedures to fulfil their mandates effectively. The aim of this global petition is to galvanize support for the Special Procedures through the electronic and hard copy collection of signatures from individuals from all over the world. We encourage you to sign the petition and to forward it to other individuals and organizations you believe would be interested in supporting this initiative. We are also keen to attract the signature of individuals working for NGOs, human rights defenders, national human rights institutions, parliamentarians, victims and their families and representatives. The petition offers an important opportunity to bear witness to the contribution made to the lives of individuals and their families by the Special Procedures. In this connection, please let us know if there are individuals who you think we could approach and invite to share their personal testimony. Partners in this petition initiative are the following NGOs: African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, Association for the Prevention of Torture, Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, Democracy Coalition Project, FIACAT, Forum Asia, Franciscans International, Global Justice (Brazil), Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists, International Federation for Human Rights, International Service for Human Rights, and the World Organization against Torture (OMCT). Technical constraints limit our ability to keep the website list of co-sponsoring organisations open; but NGOs can sign the petition directly on the site (several NGOs have signed as an individual would and ticked to have their name displayed on the public listing of signatures). We are looking into ways to highlight NGOs that have signed up the petition. The following groups could be approached to support the petition: National NGOs, who use the Special Procedures system or who have an interest in the Human Rights Council more broadly. Parliamentarians, particularly those with a human rights interest, or who are members of human rights parliamentary committees, bearing in mind that parliamentarians are also victims of human rights violations and their cases are taken up by the Special Procedures; National human rights institutions, who can use the recommendations of the Special Procedures in their work and, internationally at least, are seeking to forge a closer relationship with the Special Procedures. United Nations Associations, which are independent of the UN; many have a strong interest in human rights and UN reform Academic institutions National bar associations, relevant both because of the role played by the Special Procedures in interpreting and developing the law, but also because the theme of independence of judges and lawyers, as well as individuals who are members these professions, are subject of action by the Special Procedures. Further information:
Owner: Act for Special Procedures