United Nations Mechanisms

UN Special Procedures

The Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and give advice 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 system and covers all human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political, and social. As of 1 October 2013, Special Procedures cover 37 thematic and 14 country mandates.

UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing

The United Nations (UN) has a special representative designated to work on the human right to adequate housing across the world. A detailed letter with the facts of the eviction, including the time of the eviction / demolition, nature ofthe eviction, number of families affected, homes destroyed, and details of any violence and destruction should be compiled in English and sent to the office of the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing in Geneva.

E-mail: srhousing@ohchr.org

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/Pages/HousingIndex.aspx

In addition to the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, some other UN Special Rapporteurs and independent experts that could be approached, depending on the issue, the human rights violations involved, and the population affected by the eviction, include:

Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights

E-mail: srextremepoverty@ohchr.org

Special Rapporteur on the right to food

E-mail: srfood@ohchr.org

Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association

E-mail: freeassembly@ohchr.org

Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

E-mail: srhealth@ohchr.org

Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons

E-mail: idp@ohchr.org

Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation

E-mail: srwatsan@ohchr.org

Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples

E-mail: indigenous@ohchr.org

Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders

E-mail: defenders@ohchr.org

Independent Expert on minority issues

E-mail: minorityissues@ohchr.org

How to Submit Information to UN Special Procedures, including the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing

According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR),in order for a complaint to be assessed, the following information is needed in English:

• Identification of the alleged victim(s).
• Identification of the alleged perpetrators of the violation (if known). Substantiated information on all the actors involved should be submitted, including non-state actors if relevant.
• Identification of the person(s) or organization(s) submitting the communication (this information will be kept confidential).
• Date, place and detailed description of the circumstances of the incident(s) or violation.

The information submitted can refer to violations that are said to have already occurred, that are ongoing or about to occur.

Other details pertaining to the specific alleged violation may be required by the relevant thematic mandates (for example, legal remedies or other measures taken to seek redress).

United Nations Treaty Bodies

United Nations human rights treaty bodies are committees of independent experts that monitor implementation of the core international human rights treaties. Each State party to a treaty has an obligation to take steps to ensure that everyone in the State can enjoy the rights established and protected in the treaty. The treaty bodies perform a number of functions in accordance with the provisions of the treaties that established them. These include consideration of State parties' periodic reports, consideration of individual complaints, conducting country inquiries, issuing general comments that interpret treaty provisions, and organising thematic discussions related to the treaties. There are nine core human rights treaty bodies composed of independent experts of recognised competence in human rights, who are nominated and elected for fixed renewable terms of four years by State parties. The six treaty bodies relevant for monitoring the human rights treaties ratified by India are the following:

Human Rights Committee

(monitors compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)
Phone: +41-22-917-9261
Fax: +41-22-917-9008
E-mail: ccpr@ohchr.org

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

(monitors compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
Phone: +41-22-917-9000
Fax: +41-22-917-9008
E-mail: cescr@ohchr.org

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

(monitors compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination)
Phone: +41-22-917-9757
Fax: +41-22-917-9008
E-mail: cerd@ohchr.org

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

(monitors compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women)
Phone: +41-22-917-9443
Fax: +41-22-917-9008
E-mail: cedaw@ohchr.org

Committee on the Rights of the Child

(monitors compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child)
Phone: +41-22-917-9141
Fax: +41-22-917-9008
E-mail: crc@ohchr.org

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

(monitors compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)
Phone: +41-22-917-9703
Fax: +41-22-917-9008
E-mail: crpd@ohchr.org