JPTi Engagement at the Annual Meeting of the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures
- Apr 18
- 3 min read
On 8–10 April 2026, the deferred 31st annual meeting of the United Nations Special Procedures addressed key strategic priorities, as well as working methods, in a demanding global context.
During this meeting, a new Coordination Committee was elected by the UN Special Procedures mandate holders. Professor Georgios Katrougalos was appointed as Chairman in his capacity as Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order. The Committee further includes Fernanda Hopenhaym, Member of the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises; Elisa Morgera, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change; Laura Nyirinkindi, Member of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls; Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education; and Surya Deva, Special Rapporteur on the right to development.
On 10 April 2026, Justice pour Tous Internationale (JPTi) participated in the annual meeting of the Coordination Committee of the United Nations Special Procedures in Geneva, including the dedicated session held with selected non-governmental organisations invited by email. In line with established practice, no public announcement of this meeting with NGOs was made.
During the meeting with NGOs, JPTi formally congratulated Professor Georgios Katrougalos on his election as Chairman and engaged constructively with mandate holders. In this context, JPTi advanced a series of substantive proposals aimed at addressing the persistent gap in implementation and follow-up at the domestic level.
Building on this exchange, and further to the encouragement received during the meeting, JPTi subsequently shared a detailed briefing note with the Chair and members of the Coordination Committee. The note elaborates on the proposals discussed, focusing in particular on strengthening structured cooperation between United Nations Special Procedures, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), and National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up (NMIRFs), while clearly distinguishing their respective roles. It emphasises that NHRIs function as independent institutions of oversight and accountability, whereas NMIRFs operate as governmental coordination mechanisms within the executive, and underscores that this institutional distinction is essential to ensuring both effective implementation and the preservation of independence within the national human rights system.
Full JPTi Briefing Note can be downloaded here:
In this context, JPTi further proposed a modification of the current procedures governing the transmission and follow-up of communications issued by the United Nations Special Procedures. It was suggested that, in line with the distinct roles of NHRIs and NMIRFs, all communications, including Allegation Letters (AL), Urgent Appeals (UA), Other Letters (OL), as well as Opinions of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and similar outputs, should be systematically and separately transmitted to National Human Rights Institutions. Such transmission should be accompanied by an invitation for NHRIs to conduct independent assessments within their respective mandates and in full compliance with the Paris Principles, and to submit their findings and follow-up reports directly to the relevant Special Procedures within established deadlines. This approach would enable the activation of the full range of NHRI powers, including investigative, advisory, and reporting functions, and would strengthen independent oversight, accountability, and the overall quality of follow-up at the national level.
Among the key proposals is the alignment of the annual meetings of the Coordination Committee and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) in Geneva, as well as enhanced participation in international and regional NHRI fora. These measures are intended to reinforce systematic engagement, improve follow-up, and ensure that the outputs of Special Procedures are translated into concrete and measurable action at the national level. In addition, JPTi suggested that future meetings between NGOs and Special Procedures be publicly announced through social media platforms, including the official Special Procedures channels on X and LinkedIn, in order to enhance transparency and broader stakeholder engagement.
This engagement reflects JPTi’s continued commitment to strengthening the implementation of international human rights standards and contributing to a more coherent and effective system of accountability and follow-up.
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