The Secretariat of the United Nations Human Rights Council has issued a call for applications for the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression at the sixty-second session of the Council, which is scheduled to take place from June 15 to July 10, 2026.
In its February 6, 2026 call addressed to all Permanent Missions to the United Nations Office at Geneva, international organizations or their offices, national institutions, non-governmental organizations and other human rights bodies, the Secretariat called for individual applications, including a motivation letter, to be submitted and received no later than March 24, 2026 at 12 noon Geneva time.
Applications are to be made through an online application procedure, which consists of an online survey and an application form in Word format. However, the appointment of a new special rapporteur will only be made if the Human Rights Council extends the mandate which is due to expire this year.
The mandate was last extended through a Resolution unanimously adopted by the Human Rights Council on April 3, 2023 at its 55th meeting, during which it decided to extend the mandate of Special Rapporteur for a further period of three years.
The UN Commission on Human Rights established the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression in 1993. After it replaced the Commission on Human Rights, the Human Rights Council decided to extend the mandate for another three years in March 2008, by resolution 7/36. The mandate was renewed again for an additional three years in March 2011 by HRC resolution 16/4; in March 2014, by resolution 25/2; in March 2017, by resolution 34/18; in March 2020, by resolution 43/4; before its last extension by resolution 52/9 adopted in April 2023.
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur was created to protect and promote freedom of opinion and expression, offline and online, in accordance with international human rights law and standards.
Special procedures mandate holders and members of Expert Mechanisms of the Human Rights Council are appointed through a competitive and transparent process that takes place in several stages.
First, candidates submit an online written application in response to a call for applications issued by the Secretariat. In the next stage, the Consultative Group, which is composed of five high-level representatives nominated by each of the five regional groups and serving in their personal capacity, considers the applications received and shortlists candidates for interviews.
The shortlisted candidates are interviewed by telephone or, wherever possible, by video call. The Consultative Group then presents its public report, which includes a list of recommended candidates for each mandate, to the President of the Human Rights Council.
Following broad consultations, and on the basis of the recommendations of the Consultative Group, the President of the Human Rights Council identifies an appropriate candidate for each vacancy. The President proposes the list, of all candidates identified for all vacancies available, to the Human Rights Council. The appointment is completed when the selected candidate, put forward by the President, is approved by the Human Rights Council.
According to the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of June 18, 2007, the general criteria that are of paramount importance when nominating, selecting and appointing mandate holders are expertise, experience in the field of the mandate, independence, impartiality, personal integrity, and objectivity.
Due consideration is also given to gender balance and equitable geographic representation, as well as to an appropriate representation of different legal systems.
Eligible candidates are regarded as highly qualified individuals who possess established competence, relevant expertise and extensive professional experience in the field of human rights.
In its decision 6/102 of September 27, 2007, the Council adopted technical and objective requirements for eligible candidates for mandate holder positions. These are:
Qualifications: relevant educational qualifications or equivalent professional experience in the field of human rights; good communication skills in one of the official languages of the United Nations.
Relevant expertise: knowledge of international human rights instruments, norms and principles; as well as knowledge of institutional mandates related to the United Nations or other international or regional organizations’ work in the area of human rights; proven work experience in the field of human rights.
Established competence: nationally, regionally or internationally recognized competence related to human rights.
Flexibility/readiness and availability of time to perform effectively the functions of the mandate and to respond to its requirements, including attending Human Rights Council sessions.
The Consultative Group, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, is charged with interviewing shortlisted candidates to ensure equal treatment of all candidates.
The Consultative Group submits to the President, at least one month before the beginning of the session, in which the Council would consider the selection of mandate holders, its report with a list of candidates who possess the highest qualifications for the mandates in question and who meet the general criteria and particular requirements.
On the basis of the recommendations of the Consultative Group and following broad consultations, in particular through the regional coordinators, the President of the Council will identify an appropriate candidate for each vacancy and present to member States and observers a list of candidates.
The President is required to justify his or her decision if he or she decides not to follow the order of priority proposed by the Consultative Group.
The appointment of the mandate holders will be completed upon the approval of the Council, on the last day of its session at which the appointments are to be made.
