Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Latest news on Working Group

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention statement upon conclusion of its mission to Germany (26 September- 5 October 2011)

Statement by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention upon conclusion of its Mission to Georgia (15-24 June 2011)

UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concludes its 59th Session

Human Rights: a Media Guide to the new UN independent experts

An independent judiciary is fundamental in protecting citizens from arbitrary detention

Statement by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention upon conclusion of its Mission to Malaysia (7-18 June 2010)

UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention elects new Chairperson-Rapporteur

Norwegian legal expert joins UN Group on Arbitrary Detention

Latest reports

Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - A/HRC/16/47
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Joint study on secret detention of the Special Rapporteur on torture & other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights & fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention & the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances - A/HRC/13/42

Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - A/HRC/13/30
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Opinions adopted by the WG on Arbitrary Detention - A/HRC/13/30/Add.1
E (Advance Edited Version)

Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - Mission to Malta - A/HRC/13/30/Add.2
E F S A C R

Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - Mission to Senegal - A/HRC/13/30/Add.3
E F S A C R

Introduction

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was established by resolution 1991/42 of the former Commission on Human Rights. Its mandate was clarified and extended by Commission’s resolution 1997/50. The Human Rights Council assumed the Working Group’s mandate by its decision 2006/102 and extended it for a further three-year period by resolution 6/4 of 28 September 2007:

(a) To investigate cases of deprivation of liberty imposed arbitrarily or otherwise inconsistently with the relevant international standards set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or in the relevant international legal instruments accepted by the States concerned;
(b) To seek and receive information from Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and receive information from the individuals concerned, their families or their representatives;
(c) To act on information submitted to its attention regarding alleged cases of arbitrary detention by sending urgent appeals and communications to concerned Governments to clarify and to bring to their attention these cases;
(d) To conduct field missions upon the invitation of Government, in order to understand better the situations prevailing in countries, as well as the underlying reasons for instances of arbitrary deprivation of liberty;
(e) To formulate deliberations on issues of a general nature in order to assist States to prevent and guard against the practice of arbitrary deprivation of liberty and to facilitate consideration of future cases;
(f) To present an annual report to the Human Rights Council presenting its activities, findings, conclusions and recommendations.

Furthermore, the Human Rights Council encourages the Working Group in fulfilling its mandate:

(a) To work in cooperation and dialogue with all those concerned by the cases submitted to it, and in particular with States that provide information which should be given due consideration;
(b) To work in coordination with other mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, with other competent United Nations bodies and with treaty bodies, bearing in mind the role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in such coordination, and to take all necessary measures to avoid duplication with those mechanisms, in particular regarding the treatment of the communications it receives and field missions;
(c) To carry out its task with discretion, objectivity and independence.

Members of the Working Group:

Mr. Malick El Hadji Sow (Senegal), since 2008 (Chair-Rapporteur)
Ms. Shaheen Sardar Ali (Pakistan), since 2008 (Vice-Chair)

Mr. Roberto Garretón (Chile), since 2008
Mr. Mads Andenas (Norway), since 2009

Mr. Vladimir Tochilovsky (Ukraine), since 2010

Former members of the Working Group:

Mr. Aslan Abashidze (Russian Federation)
Mr. Tamás Bán (Hungary)
Ms. Manuela Carmena Castrillo (Spain)
Mr. Roberto Garretón (Chile)
Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Hashemi (Islamic Republic of Iran)
Mr. Louis Joinet (France)
Mr. Laity Kama (Senegal)
Mr. Kapil Sibal (India)
Mr. Petr Uhl (Czech Republic)
Ms. Soledad Villagra de Biedermann (Paraguay)
Ms. Leïla Zerrougui (Algeria)