Subsidiary expert mechanisms

Subsidiary expert mechanisms provide the Council with thematic expertise, focused mainly on studies, research-based advice or best practices. Supported by the thematic division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, they meet and report annually to the Council.

The studies and advice of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples aim to provide a better understanding of the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to propose concrete actions that States, indigenous peoples, civil society, international organizations, national human rights institutions and others can take in order to further its implementation. The Expert Mechanism’s studies and advice place special emphasis on the participation of indigenous peoples themselves in decisions that affect them.

The Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development provides the Human Rights Council with thematic expertise on the right to development in searching for, identifying and sharing best practices with Member States, and promotes the implementation of the right to development worldwide.

Pursuant to the Human Rights Council resolutions establishing the mandates of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development, their members are not special procedure mandate holders but are selected following the same procedure. For a general description of the selection and appointment process of Human Rights Council mandate holders and information on any open vacancies, please visit this web page. For frequently asked questions and answers on the selection and appointment process, please visit this web page.