UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders: open vacancy

18 July 2025 - In March 2026, the UN Human Rights Council (the Council) will appoint the next Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders.

This Special Rapporteur will be expected to serve two terms of three years each, starting in 2026.

Candidates must have the required expertise and experience in the field of the mandate, must be independent and impartial and show a high level of personal integrity and objectivity.

This document was prepared by civil society organisations to support all stakeholders in the dissemination of the upcoming vacancy with a view to encouraging a broad pool of applications from highly qualified and independent candidates for the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

States may use the document to disseminate and encourage the identification of suitable candidates at the national level. It is also intended as a checklist that can be used by the Council’s Consultative Group, Regional Coordinators and the President of the Human Rights Council to ensure that only highly qualified and independent candidates are considered and appointed.

Prospective mandate holders should be aware that this is a voluntary, unpaid role. Mandate holders do not receive a salary or other financial compensation from the UN but receive travel expenses and substantive and technical support from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). This role requires a substantial time commitment from the individual, including readiness to travel and respond to urgent situations.

The appointment of diverse, independent, impartial, competent and expert persons from all regions of the world as mandate holders is essential to ensuring a well-functioning system of Special Procedures, which, in turn, is of crucial importance to the functioning of the Human Rights Council.

Signatories:

1. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
2. Southern Initiatives (SI), Myanmar
3. Dawei Probono Lawyer Network (DPLN), Myanmar
4. Fundación Red por la infancia, Argentina
5. Law and Democracy Support Foundation (LDSF)
6. Mesoamerican Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders (IM-Defensoras)
7. Intersex Society of Zambia (ISSZ)
8. Refugees in Libya (RIL)9. Inclusive Bangladesh
9. Inclusive Bangladesh
10. Project on Organizing, Development, Education, and Research (PODER)
11. AWAFY Sudanese Organization
12. Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
13. Green Development Advocates (GDA)
14. Action for Conservation and Environmental Sustainability (ACES)
15. International Financial Institutions Monitoring Group (IFI Monitoring)
16. Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG)
17. Regional Coalition of WHRDs in Southwest Asia and North Africa (WHRD MENA)
18. Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRDIC)
19. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
20. CIVICUS
21. Peace Brigades International
22. RAWSA - Regional Advocacy for Women’s Sustainable Advancement
23. Uyghur Human Rights Project
24. Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
25. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
26. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
27. Centro de Asistencia Legal a Pueblos Indígenas (CALPI)
28. The Lesbian and Gay Association of Liberia (Liberia-Liberia)
29. Hivos
30. Oyu Tolgoi Watch
31. Rivers without Boundaries Mongolia
32. Foundation for Public Interest Law and Development (Nigeria)
33. Equality Bahamas (The Bahamas)
34. Advocacy for Human Rights and Justice-Sierra Leone
35. Oil Refinery Residents Association (ORRA)
36. MENA Rights Group
37. International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
38. Plataforma Nacional Juvenil Nicaragua (PNJ)
39. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
40. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
41. International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World)
42. Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l'amitié entre les peuples (MRAP)
43. American Association of Jurists (AAJ)
44. Amnesty International
45. Front Line Defenders
46. Vuka! Coalition for Civic Space