{"id":299437,"date":"2024-08-06T14:35:35","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T18:35:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=299437"},"modified":"2026-07-10T12:18:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T16:18:47","slug":"un-human-rights-council-and-the-question-of-palestine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/un-human-rights-council-and-the-question-of-palestine\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council and the Question of Palestine"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council involve various independent human rights experts who monitor and report on human rights issues globally, including the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. These experts gather information, engage with various stakeholders, and report their findings to the UN Human Rights Council, aiming to highlight concerns and recommend improvements. The mechanisms are intended to address both specific incidents and systemic issues affecting human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory. The work done under these mandates is crucial in providing the international community with detailed insights and ongoing assessments of the human rights landscape in the OPT.<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>1. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
\n
\"Francesca

Francesca Albanese attends a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on 27 March 2024 (Fabrice Coffrini\/AFP)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to follow and report on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.<\/p>\n

The task of the Special Rapporteur is to assess the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, report publicly about it, and work with governments, civil society and others to foster international cooperation. The Special Rapporteur undertakes regular visits or missions to the Occupied Palestinian Territory and reports annually to the Human Rights Council. OHCHR provides the mandate holder with logistical and technical assistance.<\/p>\n

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur derives from the 1993 resolution from the Committee of Human Rights. The mandate calls on the Special Rapporteur:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. To investigate Israel’s violations of the principles and bases of international law, international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967;<\/li>\n
  2. To receive communications, to hear witnesses, and to use such modalities of procedure as he may deem necessary for his mandate; and<\/li>\n
  3. To report, with his conclusions and recommendations, to the Commission on Human Rights at its future sessions, until the end of the Israeli occupation of those territories.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Current Mandate holder is Francesca Albanese<\/strong><\/span>. She is an Affiliate Scholar at the Institute for the Study of International Migration at Georgetown University, and a Senior Advisor on Migration and Forced Displacement for the think tank Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), where she co-founded the Global Network on the Question of Palestine (GNQP), a coalition of renowned professional and scholars engaged in\/on Israel\/Palestine. She has published widely on the legal situation in Israel\/Palestine; her latest book, Palestinian Refugees in International Law (Oxford University Press, 2020), offers a comprehensive legal analysis of the situation of Palestinian refugees from its origins to modern-day reality. She regularly teaches and lectures on International Law and Forced Displacement in European and Arab universities, and speaks frequently at conferences and public events on the legal situation of Palestine. She worked for a decade as a human rights expert for the United Nations, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees. In these capacities, she advised the UN, governments, and civil society across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Asia Pacific, on the enforcement of human rights norms, especially for vulnerable groups including refugees and migrants. She holds a Law Degree (with honors) from the University of Pisa and an LLM in Human Rights from the University of London, SOAS.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

    Former mandate holders<\/h3>\n
    \n

    Mr. S. Michael Lynk<\/a>
    \n(Canada) 2016-2022<\/p>\n

    Mr. Makarim WIBISONO<\/a>
    \n(Indonesia), 2014 – 2016<\/p>\n

    Mr. Richard FALK
    \n(United States of America), 2008-2014<\/p>\n

    Mr. John DUGARD
    \n(South Africa), 2001-2008<\/p>\n

    Mr. Giorgio GIACOMELLI
    \n(Italy), 1999-2001<\/p>\n

    Mr. Hannu HALINEN
    \n(Finland), 1995-1999<\/p>\n

    Mr. Ren\u00e9 FELBER
    \n(Switzerland), 1993-1995<\/p>\n

    \n

    Reports:<\/strong><\/p>\n