Background

The UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Mr. George Katrougalos will conduct a country visit to Iceland from 19 to 28 May 2025. The Independent Expert will seek to identify the challenges to achieving a democratic and equitable international order, as well as the good practices that might help bring it into fruition. For that, he will hold discussions with government officials, the National Human Rights Institution, parliamentarians, members of the judiciary, civil society actors, human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, members of the academia, as well as any other actors relevant for that matter

Objectives

The visit aims to assess the country's efforts in fostering a just and inclusive international order and to engage with stakeholders on challenges and best practices in this regard. At the end of his visit, the Independent Expert will present an end-of-mission statement which includes preliminary conclusions and recommendations for the State and non-State actors to implement. The full mission report will be presented at the Human Rights Council’s in September 2026.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

The Independent Expert seeks input from all relevant stakeholders, including government authorities, civil society organizations, academics, legal practitioners, human rights defenders, international and regional organizations, and other interested parties. Contributions can cover, but are not limited to, the following themes: • The legal and institutional framework related to democracy, human rights, and international cooperation. • The country’s role in promoting an equitable international order through its foreign policies, trade agreements, and multilateral engagements. • Challenges and barriers to democratic governance, including issues of participation, accountability, and transparency. • The impact of economic and social policies on the realization of an equitable international order. • Contributions of civil society and other actors in promoting democratic and international cooperation principles. • Specific recommendations for strengthening democracy and equitable global governance.

How inputs will be used?

You do not need to answer all the questions above, but you can focus on the ones relevant to you. If you reply after the deadline of 16 May 2025, your submission will not be considered during the country visit but will be taken into account for the report of the Independent Expert before the Human Rights Council in 2026.

Submissions will be treated as confidential and will be considered during the country visit and will be taken into account for the Independent Expert’s report before the Human Rights Council in 2026. For more on information on the Independent Expert and the activities of the mandate please click on the site: https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/ie-international-order Submissions may be sent by e-mail.

Email address: [email protected] and [email protected] Email subject line: “Submission – visit of the Independent Expert to Iceland – May 2025” File formats: Word, PDF Accepted languages: English