Special Procedures

“The special procedures of the Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. The system of Special Procedures is a central element of the United Nations human rights machinery and covers all human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political, and social.” (From OHCHR | Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council)

When significant human rights concerns arise in a country or in relation to a specific issue, the Human Rights Council the power to create a ‘Special Procedure’, with the aim of monitoring the implementation of human rights in relation to this specific country or issue. A Special Procedure can either be formed as a Working Group, or as an individual (ie, Special Rapporteur or Independent Expert). The mandate of any Special Procedure is threefold:

Annual thematic reports: They assess important and topical questions within the scope of their mandate and publish annual thematic reports containing recommendations to states. Special procedures report annually to the Human Rights Council. The majority of the mandates also report to the General Assembly.

Individual complaints and communications: They are competent to receive individual complaints and issue communications in order to ‘inquire into any substantial allegations transmitted to him or her and report his or her conclusions thereon’.

Country visits: They assess the implementation of human rights within the scope of their mandate.

Communications on Tibet

OHCHR Statements on Tibet

Statements by the High Commissioner

UN women’s rights body calls on China to abolish coercive residential schools in Tibet and provide Tibetan women and girls...

30 May 2023 [Geneva] On 30 May, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) [1] raised

UN rights body calls on China to abolish coercive residential schools in Tibet, slams Communist Party’s assimilation policies

6 March 2023 [Geneva] On 6 March, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) [1] strongly criticised

UN Rights Committee Questions China’s ‘Assimilation’ of Tibetans With Focus on Residential School System

16 February 2023 [Geneva] A delegation of almost 40 Chinese government officials appeared before the UN Committee on Economic, Social

UN Human Rights Experts Raise “Serious Concern” About China’s Assimilation Policies and Residential Schools in Tibet

78% of Tibetan students aged 6 to 18 separated from their families and forced into China’s colonial boarding school system

230 Rights Groups Demand Resignation of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Activists slam Michelle Bachelet’s six-day visit for whitewashing repression against Uyghurs, Tibetans, Southern Mongolians, Hong Kongers and others 8 June

Over 220 groups urgently demand UN High Commissioner immediately postpone her visit to China

Activists warn the upcoming visit risks aiding Beijing’s attempts to whitewash repression against Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Southern Mongolians and

Tibetan, Uyghur, Hongkonger, and Chinese representatives call for the immediate postponement of the UN High Commissioner’s visit to China

Lack of transparency surrounding Michelle Bachelet’s visit will see her walk into China’s carefully controlled minefield. 2 May 2022 PRESS

UN calls for urgent information on the fate and whereabouts of three Tibetans detained for engaging in cultural activities

[GENEVA] Six leading UN human rights experts have written to the Chinese government raising the case of detained Tibetan musician

Assaulting Identity: China’s New Coercive Strategies in Tibet’

NEW REPORT CHARTS ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ ASSAULT AGAINST TIBETANS AS CHINA’S METHODS OF ‘MIND CONTROL’ AND CULTURAL ERASURE TIGHTEN

In a new 46 page report published today (22 March), ‘Assaulting Identity: China’s New Coercive Strategies in Tibet’ [1], Tibet

UNPRECEDENTED CALL BY UNITED NATIONS EXPERTS: CHINA MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN TIBET

UNPRECEDENTED CALL BY UNITED NATIONS EXPERTS: CHINA MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN TIBET TIBET ADVOCACY COALITION

HRC 44th Session: Item 3 Statement Delivered on Tibetan Environmental Defenders

10 July 2020 - The following is the statement delivered at the 44th session of the HRC in Geneva, by

HRC 44th Session: TAC Delivers Oral Statement on COVID-19 Crackdown in Tibet

10 July, 2020 – Tenzin Jigdal, from the International Tibet Network, speaking on Tibet for The Nonviolent Radical Transnational and

UN experts call for decisive measures to protect fundamental freedoms in China

GENEVA (26 June 2020) – UN independent experts have repeatedly communicated with the Government of the People’s Republic of China

UN experts urge China to drop charges against jailed Tibetan minority human rights defender

GENEVA (19 May 2020) – UN human rights experts* have called on China to lift charges against a Tibetan minority

UN EXPERTS CALL ON CHINA TO RELEASE TIBETAN NOMAD AND ENVIRONMENT ACTIVIST, A-NYA SENDGRA

For immediate release: 19 May 2020 UN EXPERTS CALL ON CHINA TO RELEASE TIBETAN NOMAD AND ENVIRONMENT ACTIVIST, A-NYA SENDGRA

UN Geneva: China Dismisses Key Human Rights Recommendations on Tibet

UN GENEVA: CHINA DISMISSES KEY HUMAN RIGHTS RECOMMENDATIONS ON TIBET Campaigners express shock at China’s claim to have “accepted and

13 States criticise China’s abuses in Tibet at the UN Human Rights Council

13 States criticise China’s abuses in Tibet at the UN Human Rights Council [1] Diplomatic support for Tibet [2] increased at the

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reviews the report of China

GENEVA (13 August 2018) - The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today concluded its consideration of the combined

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination discusses situation in Latvia and China with civil society

GENEVA (7 August 2018) - The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning held an informal meeting with

Ambassador Haley Listens on as Secretary Pompeo Delivers Remarks to the Press on the UN Human Rights Council

Tibet Advocacy Coalition regrets US withdrawal from UN Human Rights Council

Tibet Advocacy Coalition regrets US withdrawal from UN Human Rights Council, expressing fear that China’s bullying will prevail Contacts:Urgyen Badheytsang,

China: UN human rights experts condemn 5-year jail term for Tibetan activist

GENEVA (6 June 2018) – UN human rights experts have condemned a five-year jail sentence handed to Mr. Tashi Wangchuk

High Commissioner’s global update of human rights concerns

37th session of the Human Rights CouncilItem 2: Annual Report and Oral Update by the High Commissioner for Human Rights

China: UN experts denounce the criminalization of linguistic and cultural rights advocacy

GENEVA (21 February 2018) – UN human rights experts* expressed serious concern over the ruling by a Chinese court to

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein highlights human rights concerns around the world in an address...

GENEVA, 11 September 2017 Distinguished President of the Council,Excellencies, Colleagues,Friends, As I enter the final year of my current mandate –

High Commissioner for Human Rights on the activities of his Office and recent human rights developments

Item 2: Annual Report and Oral Update to the 34th session of the Human Rights Council 8 March 2017 Distinguished

UN Rights Experts Raise Concern about Larung Gar Buddhist Institute in Tibet

Severe human rights restrictions in Tibet spark high level concern from United Nations rights experts. China to account for mass

Opening Statement by Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at the 33rd session of the...

13 September 2016 Mr President,Director-General,Excellencies,Colleagues and Friends, I am honoured to address this first session of the Council's second decade.

United Nations: China Raise False Information about Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s Death

Press Release: 18 November 2015[For Immediate Release] United Nations: China Raise False Information about Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s Death Tibet, Uyghur and Southern

Tibetan, Uyghur and Southern Mongolian activists raise extreme concern for China’s worsening crackdown on human rights ahead of crucial United...

Press Release: 16 November 2015[For Immediate Release] Tibetan, Uyghur and Southern Mongolian activists raise extreme concern for China’s worsening crackdown

NEW HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION PLAN OUTLINES VISION FOR POSITIVE CHANGE FOR TIBET

Press Release 23 September 2014 For Immediate Release Contacts: Pema Dolma, Students for a Free Tibet, German/English: +41 764331614 Iona

Tibet Advocacy Coalition calls China out over its treatment of Tibetan, Uyghur & Han Human Rights Defenders

Tibet Advocacy Coalition (Tibet Justice Center, Students for a Free Tibet, International Tibet Network) Thursday 19 June, UN Geneva Calling

One million stand for Tibet

Joint Press Statement, for immediate release 12 November 2013High Resolution Photos & Video available: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/oj1zzswcwe6l67n/ne-1s55XrU 1 million stand for Tibet

Statements by UN experts