• Commonwealth Secretariat – home page, hard to navigate, too much irrelevant information, but contains important news releases
• The Human Rights Unit (HRU) of the Commonwealth Secretariat

OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS – United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights LOUISE ARBOUR, (July 2004) is accountable to the Secretary-General and is the principal UN official responsible for human rights.  The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights leads the international human rights movement by providing “a moral authority and a voice for victims.”

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is mandated to:

• Issue public statements and appeals on human rights crises;
• Encourage dialogue and build constructive cooperation with Governments to strengthen human rights protection;
• Work with NGOs, academic institutions and the private sector to promote human rights education;
• Seek to integrate human rights standards throughout the UN;
• Encourage different institutions and organizations working for human right to combine with the UN system in working for human rights;
• Travel extensively to ensure that the human rights message is heard;
• Offer research, expertise and advice to UN human rights bodies;
• Work with the UN Department of Public Information to disseminate information on human rights and to promote human rights education.

 Arbitrary Detention – The Chairman of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Ms. Manuela Carmena Castrillo (since 2003)
Reports to the Commission
Web:  http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Detention/Pages/WGADIndex.aspx
For individual case or cases, communication should be sent to the following address:
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
c/o Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
CH-1211, Geneva 10, Switzerland
For Annual report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, communication should be sent to the following address:
Documents Distribution Service
Counter, Door 40
Palais des nations
8-14, avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Bioethics – Human Rights and Bioethics (Human Genome) Special Rapporteur Ms. Iulia-Antoanella

Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/bioethics/index.htm
Address:
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 917 9011
E-mail: ngochr@ohchr.org

Children – Special Rapporteur on the Sale Of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography

Mr. Juan Miguel PETIT (Uruguay)(since 2001)
Reports to the Commission
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/children/rapporteur/
Address: Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
c/o Office Of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations at Geneva
8-14 Ave de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland
Fax: (+41 22) 917 90 06
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org

Development (Good Governance and Debt) – Independent expert on structural adjustment policies and foreign debt

Mr. Bernards Andrew Nyamwaya Mudho since 2001
Web: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Development/IEDebt/Pages/Overview.aspx
Address:
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 917 9011
E-mail: ngochr@ohchr.org

Disappearances – Working Group Chairman on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances

Rapporteur Mr. Diego Garcia-Sayan (Peru)
Reports to the Commission
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/disappear/group/index.htm
Address:
The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission on Human Rights
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax No. (41 22) 917.9006

Education – Special Rapporteur on the right to education

Mr. Vernor Munoz Villalobos (Costa Rica) 2004
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/education/rapporteur/index.htm
Address:
Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to education
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva 8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 9003
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org

Environment – Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on Adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights

Mr. Okechkwu Ibeanu (Nigeria), 2004
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/environment/waste/
Address:
Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on Adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva 8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 9003
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org

Executions – Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions

Mr. Philip Alston (Australia)
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/executions/index.htm
His Address:
New York University School of Law
Vanderbilt Hall
40 Washington Square South, Room 305
New York, NY 10012-1099
Telephone: 212-998-6173
Email: philip.alston@nyu.edu
Address:
Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
c/o OHCHR-UNOG, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: (+41 22) 917 90 06
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org

Food – Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to food

Mr. Jean Zeigler (Switzerland) (since 2000)
Reports to the Commission and General Assembly
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/food/index.htm
Address:
Sally-Anne Way, Senior Researcher, Research Unit on the Right to Food For the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food
Institut Universitaire d’Etudes du Développement
24 Rue Rothschild
Case Postale 136,
CH-1211 Genève 21, Switzerland
Fax (+41-22) 906 5994
Email specialrapporteur@righttofood.org
Web: http://www.righttofood.org

Freedom of Opinion and Expression – Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

Special Rapporteur Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo (Kenya) (since August 2002)
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/opinion/index.htm
Address:
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 917 9011
E-mail: ngochr@ohchr.org

Freedom of Religion or Belief – Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief

Ms. Asma Jahangir (Pakistan) (since 2004)
Reports to the Commission and General Assembly
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/religion/index.htm
Address:
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 06
Email: urgent-action@ohchr.org

Genocide

Mr. Juan Mendez, (Argentina, appointed July 2004)
The first special UN advisor on the prevention of genocide
Web: http://www.un.org/preventgenocide/adviser/
Address:
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax +41 22 917 90 06
urgent-action@ohchr.org

Health – Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

Mr. Paul Hunt (New Zealand)
Web: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Health/Pages/SRRightHealthIndex.aspx
Address: OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax +41 22 917 90 06
urgent-action@ohchr.org

Housing – Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context

Independent Expert: Mr. Miloon Kothari ( India ) (since 2000)
Web: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/Pages/HousingIndex.aspx
Address: OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
fax +41 22 917 90 06
urgent-action@ohchr.org

Human Rights Defenders – Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders

Ms. Hina Jilani (Pakistan)
Reports to the Commission and the General Assembly
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/defenders/index.htm
Address for submission of allegation:
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Ms. Hina Jilani
OHCHR
United Nations
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
FAX: +41 22 917 9006
To contact the Special Representative on human rights defenders:
Mr. Ben Majekodunmi
bmajekodunmi@ohchr.org
Ms. Chloé Marnay-Baszanger
cmarnay-baszanger@ohchr.org
To submit an allegation of a violation against a human rights defender: urgent-action@ohchr.org

Indigenous – Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People

Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen (Mexico)
Reports to the Commission
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/index.htm
Address:
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people
C/O OHCHR-UNOG
Indigenous and Minorities Team
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 9008
Email: indigenous@ohchr.org
Contact Person, Pablo Espiniella, Human Rights Officer
Tel +41 22 917 94 13

Independence of the Judiciary – Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers

Mr. Leandro Despouy (Argentina)
Reports to the Commission
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/judiciary/index.htm
Address:
Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the independence of judges and lawyers
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights United Nations Office at Geneva 8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 9003
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org

Internally Displaced Persons – Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons

Mr. Francis Deng (Sudan) (since 1992)
Reports to the Commission and General Assembly
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/idp/index.htm
Address:
Special representative of the secretary general on internally displaced persons
OHCHR
United Nations,
CH-1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland.
Fax (41 22) 917-90 06
To contact Representative Mr. Paul Oertly
poertly@ohchr.org

Myanmar – Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

Mr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro (Brazil), since December 2000
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/countries/mm/mandate/index.htm
Address:
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 917 9011
E-mail: 1503@ohchr.org

Migration – Special Rapporteur of Human Rights of Migrant Workers

Ms Gabriela Rodriguez Pizarro (Costa Rica) (since 1999)
Reports to the Commission
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/migration/rapporteur/
Address:
Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax: (+41 22) 917 90 06
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org

Mercerneries – Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination

Mr. Enrique Bernales-Ballesteros (Peru), since 1987
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/mercenaries/index.htm
Address:
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 917 9011
E-mail: ngochr@ohchr.org

Poverty – Independent Expert on extreme poverty

Mr. Arjun Sengupta (India), 2004
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/poverty/expert/index.htm
Address:
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 917 9011
E-mail: ngochr@ohchr.org

Racism – Special Rapporteur on Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Mr. Doudou Diene (Senegal) (since July 2002)
Reports to the General Assembly and the Commission
Web: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Racism/SRRacism/Pages/IndexSRRacism.aspx
Address:
Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
OHCHR
United Nations,
8-14 Avenue de la Paix,
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 90 06
E-mail urgent-action@ohchr.org

Right To Freedom of Opinion and Expression – Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo (Kenya) (since 2002)
Reports to the Commission
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/opinion/index.htm
Address:
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 9003
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org

Terrorism – Special Rapporteur on human rights and terrorism of the Sub-Commission on the promotion and protection of human rights

Kalliopi K. Koufa (Greece)
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/terrorism/rapporteur/index.htm
Address:
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 917 9011
E-mail: ngochr@ohchr.org

Torture – Special Rapporteur on Torture

Mr. Manfred Nowak (Austria) (since 2004)
Reports to the Commission and General Assembly
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/torture/rapporteur/
Address:
Special Rapporteur on Torture
C/O office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
United Nations Office at Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland
Email: urgent-action@ohchr.org

Trafficking – Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children

Ms. Sigma Huda (Bangladesh)
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/trafficking/index.htm
Address:
Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons
c/o Office Of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations at Geneva
8-14 avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax: (+41 22) 917 90 06
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org (please include in the subject box: Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons)

Women – Special Rapporteur on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Its Causes and Consequences

Ms. Yakin Erturk (Turkey)
Reports to the Commission
Web: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/index.htm
Address:
The Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women
OHCHR-UNOG, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: +41-22-917-9006
Email: csaunders.hchr@unog.ch

Note: please specify which special procedure mechanism the complaint is addressed to in the subject line of the e-mail or fax, or on the cover of the envelope.

Several other individual complaint mechanisms have been established as part of the international human rights system. For more information please visit the Communications/Complaints section of the posted websites.

For a model complaint form and further contact information: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

Further information regarding Special Rapporteurs, Special Representatives, Advisors and Working Groups can be found at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/index.htm