THE SPECIAL PROCEDURES OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 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 countryspecific perspective. They are non-paid and elected for 3-year mandates that can be reconducted for another three years. As of October 2021, there are 45 thematic and 13 country mandates. With the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), special procedures include the following: “undertake country visits, act on individual cases of reported violations and concerns of a broader nature by sending communications to States and others conduct annual thematic studies, seek information from calls for input and convene expert consultations contribute to the development of international human rights standards, and engage in advocacy, raise public awareness, and provide advice for technical cooperation.” UN SR IN THE FIELD OF CULTURAL RIGHTS On 26 March 2009, the Human Rights Council decided to establish a special procedure entitled "independent expert in the field of cultural rights" under resolution 10/23. The Special Rapporteur reports annually both to the Human Rights Council, and to the General Assembly. Under this mandate, the mandate holder is asked to: • Identify best practices of promoting and protecting cultural rights at local, national, regional and international levels. • Identify obstacles to the promotion and protection of cultural rights and submit recommendations to the Council on ways to overcome them. • Work with States to foster the adoption of measures—at local, national, regional and international levels—to promote and safeguard cultural rights and make concrete proposals to enhance cooperation at all levels in that regard. • Collaborate closely with states and other relevant actors like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to study the relationship between cultural rights and cultural diversity, with the aim of further promoting cultural rights. • Integrate a gender and a disability perspective into this work. Coordinate with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, other special procedures, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and relevant actors, representing the broadest possible range of interests and experiences, including by attending relevant conferences and events. 44