Chapter VI. Prevention, Urgent Action And Appeals

Abstract

The International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, in launching the concept of the responsibility to protect, placed high emphasis on prevention. In establishing the Human Rights Council the United Nations General Assembly entrusted to it a responsibility to prevent gross violations of human rights. As subsidiary entities of the Human Rights Council, special procedures mandate holders are expected to act for the prevention of gross violations of human rights. The first thematic mechanism established, by the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (1980), adopted at its first session, a procedure for dealing with urgent reports requiring immediate action. Specifically, where such reports were received between sessions of the Group, its Chairman was authorised to transmit the reports to the government of the country concerned, the latter being invited to respond with such information as it might wish.Keywords: gross violations; human rights council; special procedures mandate holders; UN commission; United Nations general assembly; urgent reports