RES/11/11 System of special procedures

Human Rights Council

Eleventh Session

Resolution 11/11. System of special procedures

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and all other relevant international human rights instruments,

Bearing in mind General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 establishing the Human Rights Council,

Recalling its resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 of 18 June 2007 and the annexes thereto on the institution-building of the Council, General Assembly resolution 62/219 of 22 December 2007 and President’s statement 8/2 of 18 June 2008,

Expressing its appreciation for the valuable contribution of all special procedures to the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, and the need for all mandate holders to act in an objective, independent, non-selective, impartial and non-politicized manner, and recalling the need for all States to cooperate with and assist the special procedures in the performance of their tasks, to provide all information in a timely manner and to respond without undue delay to communications transmitted to them by the special procedures,

1. Reaffirms that the code of conduct for special procedures mandate holders is aimed at strengthening the capacity of mandate holders to exercise their functions while enhancing their moral authority and credibility, and that it requires supportive action by all stakeholders, and in particular by States;

2. Recalls that it is incumbent on special procedures mandate holders to exercise their functions with full respect for and strict observance of their mandates, as outlined in the relevant Council resolutions providing such mandates, and to comply fully with the provisions of the code of conduct;

3. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in accordance with Council resolution 5/2, to assist the special procedures further with a view to contributing to their awareness of and full compliance with the code of conduct;

4. Decides to remain seized of this matter.

29th meeting 18 June 2009

[Adopted without a vote.] -----