Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Latest news on Working Group

Le Groupe de travail sur la détention arbitraire conclut sa visite officielle au Sénégal

Le Groupe de Travail sur la Détention Arbitraire commence sa visite au Sénégal

UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention elects new Chairperson-Rapporteur

Norwegian legal expert joins UN Group on Arbitrary Detention

UN experts strongly condemn the execution of nine men following an unfair trial in Sudan

UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concludes visit to Malta

UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concludes visit to Italy
[Italian version]

UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concludes visit to Ukraine
[Ukrainian version]

UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concludes visit to Colombia
[Spanish version]

Latest reports

Report of the Working Group on arbitrary detention - Mission to Colombia
E F R S A

Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
E F S A C R

Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
R S

Mission to Italy (3 to 14 November 2008)
E F S A C R

Mission to Ukraine (22 October to 5 November 2008)
E F S A C R

Mission to Colombia (1 to 10 October 2008)
S

Mission to Mauritania (19 February to 3 March 2008)
E F S R C A

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 (Chairperson-Rapporteur)
Ms. Shaheen Sardar Ali (Pakistan), since 2008 (Vice-Chairperson)

Mr. Roberto Garretón (Chile), since 2008
Mr. Aslan Abashidze (Russian Federation), since 2008

Mr. Mads Andenas (Norway), since 2009

Former members of the Working Group:

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)