respond to individual complaints, conduct studies, provide advice on technical cooperation and engage in general promotional activities. Most mandate-holders receive information on specific allegations of human rights violations and send urgent appeals or letters of allegation to Governments asking for clarification. Upon invitation, they also undertake country visits. In addition to the Independent Expert on minority issues, other mandateholders responsible for civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights are relevant to the situation of minorities, and many receive information about violations of the rights of minorities related to their particular human rights focus and expertise. Particularly relevant are the mandates on: extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living; extreme poverty; the right to food; freedom of opinion and expression; freedom of religion or belief; the right to health; the right to education; the situation of human rights defenders; internally displaced persons; contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; trafficking in persons; and violence against women, its causes and consequences. There are also new mandates that can be of particular interest for minorities, notably the Independent Expert in the field of cultural rights.18 C. Human Rights Council mechanisms The universal periodic review In 2006, the General Assembly adopted resolution 60/251 and decided that the Human Rights Council should undertake a universal periodic review (UPR) of the fulfilment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments. All United Nations Member States will be reviewed in this way every four years. The review is based on three reports: one by the State itself and two by OHCHR, namely a compilation of United Nations information (from reports of treaty bodies, special procedures and other relevant official United Nations documents) and a summary of stakeholders’ input (from NGOs, NHRIs, academic institutions and regional organizations). For the preparation of these three documents, which may include information on the human rights situation of persons belonging to minorities, United Nations entities can: (i) advise States on how to prepare their reports in a consultative manner; (ii) send submissions to OHCHR and/or draw attention to their own publications for OHCHR review, to be considered for the compilation of United Nations information reports; and (iii) disseminate information to stakeholders, including NGOs, for the preparation of their input. The review of a State takes place during a three-hour interactive dialogue before the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, composed 18 For more information about special procedures, see www.ohchr.org. 24