discrimination as a key theme of the mandate and a fundamental principle in access to the right to health. The SR expressed his intention to address the impact of discrimination and stigma on the health of particular groups including racial and ethnic minorities during the course of the mandate. The SR on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, addressed the issue of forced evictions in 2004. The report examined the main causes of forced evictions, including development-induced displacement, and eviction in conflict and post-conflict situations. The SR also examined particular groups including minorities and indigenous peoples who are more likely to be victims of forced displacement. NGOs with information relating to themes being studied by the special procedures should send relevant information to the OHCHR. (See Annex 6.1 for details.) Individual communications Some special procedures are authorized to intervene on behalf of individuals. NGOs can submit information on a specific violation to the expert. In some cases the expert will send an urgent appeal to the government requesting information on the allegation and seeking assurances that the government will take preventative action or undertake an investigation. Sometimes the fact that a violation has been brought to the attention of a special procedure is enough to stop human rights abuse. In some cases, the government will reply to the expert, denying that violations have occurred or reassuring the expert that they will take preventative action. In other cases, the expert will not receive any response from the government. Apart from reporting state failure to respond to the CHR or other UN human rights bodies, in the hope that international pressure will result in government action, there is little else an expert can do. They can only intervene when they receive credible information about a violation. Several mechanisms provide specific guidelines on the format for submitting information, see: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/ menu2/8/question.htm for details. Each expert decides, on the basis of the information received, whether to take up the case. If a complaint contains abusive language or is obviously politically motivated, it will not be considered. Experts include information about allegations of violations, and the response of the government concerned, in their reports to the CHR. NGOs should send communications, addressed to the relevant special procedure, to the OHCHR. (See Annex 6.1.) other actors to directly assess the situation. Experts require an invitation from the government to make a visit. In some cases governments refuse their requests to visit. Some governments, however, have issued a ‘standing invitation’ to all special procedures. This means that any expert can visit that country. See: http://www.unhchr.ch/ html/menu2/2/invitations.htm for a list. Due to UN budget constraints, experts usually only make two visits in a year. They require freedom of movement and freedom to meet with whoever they choose, without government interference. For a comprehensive list of past visits, by country with links to visit reports and details of planned future visits, see: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/2/ visits.htm. Country visits have been cut short or cancelled because of constraints imposed on experts by governments. For example the SR on the situation of human rights in Myanmar/Burma suspended a visit in March 2003 after finding a listening device in the room where he was conducting interviews.38 Experts also request assurances from governments that the people they meet will not face threats or harassment as a result of cooperating with them. However, this does not necessarily guarantee safety. In Brazil, in October 2003, two witnesses were assassinated shortly after providing testimony to the SR on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions.39 Experts will try to follow-up a person’s situation with governments if they have concerns in this regard. For example, the SR on the right to education highlighted in her 2003 report her ongoing concern about the fate of a group of Kurdish students she had met during her mission to Turkey, and the failure of the government to respond to her enquiries.40 NGOs can get involved at all stages of a country visit. They can lobby the government to invite a particular expert, or to issue a standing invitation to all special procedures. When an expert visits, NGOs can provide information to and/or meet the expert. They can request the expert to raise issues or violations with the government and to seek dialogue or redress for victims. NGOs can use the visit to gain national media interest in their issues of concern and, following the visit, they can use the expert’s reports to put pressure on the government to improve the situation. Country visits 4.3 Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Many mandates authorize the SR or IE to undertake country visits. (See Annex 6.5 for details.) These allow experts to meet with government officials, NGOs and The Sub-Commission is a subsidiary body of the CHR. It consists of 26 experts who serve in an independent and individual capacity. They are nominated by states and 30 MINORITY RIGHTS: A GUIDE TO UNITED NATIONS PROCEDURES AND INSTITUTIONS