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October 29, 2025 Humanitarian aid

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is deeply concerned about the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record. On Tuesday, the hurricane hit Jamaica, bringing with it torrential rain and strong winds.

According to the UN chief's press service, the storm is heading toward Cuba and the Bahamas. The Dominican Republic and Haiti are already experiencing widespread flooding.

The UN chief expresses solidarity with the governments and peoples of countries affected by the hurricane, conveys his sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.

UN assistance

The United Nations is providing comprehensive support to countries in the hurricane's path. Under the leadership of UN Resident Coordinators on the ground and in close collaboration with authorities and humanitarian partners, UN agencies are assessing needs, providing direct assistance to victims, and preparing for the hurricane's potential impacts in other parts of the region. UN teams are already working in the affected areas and are preparing to scale up their assistance.

The UN has allocated $4 million each to Haiti and Cuba from the Central Emergency Response Fund. The funds are intended to support hurricane preparedness and mitigation efforts under the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' (OCHA) prevention program.

Specifically, the World Food Programme (WFP) has deployed over 800 metric tons of food, enough to feed 86,000 people in Haiti for two weeks. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has pre-positioned hygiene kits for 14,500 people and special food for over 4,000 children. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has stockpiled reproductive health supplies for 5,000 people and hygiene kits for 4,000 people. Additionally, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a World Health Organization (WHO) organization, has provided health kits for 11,000 people.

The UN will also consider raising additional funds to finance the response to the natural disaster.

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October 29, 2025 Climate and environment

As global temperatures rise and the impacts of climate change intensify, the vast gap in adaptation funding for developing countries is putting lives, livelihoods, and entire economies at risk, according to the 2025 Climate Change Adaptation Report, titled "Running Out Fuel," prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

IN reportA report published ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), which will take place in November in Belém, Brazil, notes that despite improved adaptation planning and implementation, adaptation financing needs in developing countries will exceed $310 billion per year by 2035. This is 12 times higher than current levels of international public adaptation financing.

"The impacts of climate change are accelerating. However, adaptation funding has not kept pace, leaving the world's most vulnerable people suffering from rising sea levels, deadly storms, and scorching heat," the UN Secretary-General noted. Antonio Guterres in his message on the occasion of the report's release. "Adaptation is not an expense, it's a lifeline. Closing the adaptation gap is how we protect lives, ensure climate justice, and build a safer and more resilient world. There's no time to waste."

Adaptation is not an expense, it is a means of salvation

“Every person on this planet faces the impacts of climate change: wildfires, extreme heat, desertification, floods, rising prices, and much more,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “As action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions continues to lag, these impacts will only worsen, harming more people and causing significant economic losses. We need a global effort to increase adaptation funding—from both public and private sources—without increasing the debt burden of vulnerable countries. Even with limited budgets and competing priorities, the reality is simple: if we don’t start investing in adaptation now, we will face rising costs every year.”

Missing funds

The $310 billion estimate is based on modeled costs. If the estimates are based on extrapolated needs reflected in Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans, this figure rises to $365 billion. These figures are based on 2023 data and are not adjusted for inflation.

If we don't start investing in adaptation now, we will face increasing costs every year.

International public adaptation finance flows to developing countries will total $26 billion in 2023, down from $28 billion in the previous year. This leaves an adaptation finance gap of $284-339 billion per year, 12-14 times higher than current flows. UNEP's previous estimate amounted to 194-366 billion dollars.

If current funding trends do not change in the near future, the target of doubling international public funding for adaptation measures from 2019 levels to approximately $40 billion by 2025, as set out in Glasgow Climate Pact, will not be executed.

Planning and implementation of measures

Approximately 172 countries have at least one national adaptation policy or plan in place; only four countries have not yet begun developing a plan. However, in 36 of these 172 countries, the instruments are outdated or have not been updated for at least ten years. This must be taken into account to minimize the risk of maladaptation.

In the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), which countries submit under the Paris Agreement to describe their progress in meeting their climate commitments, countries have reported on over 1,600 implemented adaptation measures, primarily in the areas of biodiversity, agriculture, water resources, and infrastructure. However, only a few countries report on the actual results and impacts needed to assess their effectiveness.

Meanwhile, support for new projects under the Adaptation Fund, Global Environment Facility, and Green Climate Fund has grown to nearly $920 million in 2024. This is 86 percent higher than the five-year average of $494 million from 2019 to 2023. However, this may prove to be only a temporary blip, as emerging financial constraints make the future uncertain.

Increasing public and private funding

The new collective climate finance target agreed at COP29 calls for developed countries to provide at least $300 billion per year to combat climate change in developing countries by 2035. This is insufficient to close the financing gap for two reasons.

First, if the inflation rate of the last decade persists until 2035, developing countries' adaptation financing needs will increase from $310-365 billion per year in 2023 prices to $440-520 billion per year. Second, the $300 billion target is intended for both mitigation and adaptation. This means that only a fraction of this amount will be allocated to adaptation.

The Baku-Belen roadmap for raising $1.3 trillion by 2035 could be of great importance, but care must be taken to avoid increasing the vulnerability of developing countries. Grants, concessional, and debt-free instruments are crucial to prevent debt buildup, which would hinder vulnerable countries' investment in adaptation.

For the roadmap to work, the international community must close the adaptation funding gap. This requires mitigating climate change, preventing maladaptation, and increasing funding through new donors, investors, and instruments. It is also necessary to engage more financial actors in integrating resilience issues into decision-making processes.

While the private sector must do more, the report estimates a realistic potential for private investment in public adaptation priorities at $50 billion per year. This compares to current private investment of approximately $5 billion per year. Reaching $50 billion will require targeted policy measures and a combination of financial solutions, with concessional public financing used to mitigate risks and increase private investment.

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October 29, 2025 Climate and environment

The climate crisis is no longer a future threat – it's already claiming lives. A new global report from the Lancet Countdown research project, prepared in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), warns that millions of people die each year due to the consequences of climate inaction.

A document published ahead of the opening of the UN Climate Conference (COP30) in Brazil shows that 12 of 20 key indicators tracking health threats from global warming have reached record levels.

"The climate crisis is a health crisis. Every fraction of a degree of warming costs lives," said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, a WHO spokesperson.

Mortality rates are rising

According to the report, heat-related deaths have increased by 23 percent since the 1990s, averaging 546,000 fatal incidents per year. In 2024, every person on Earth was exposed to dangerous heat for an average of 16 days, with infants and the elderly experiencing heat stress for more than 20 days.

Droughts and fires have led to increased food insecurity, with 124 million people facing food shortages in 2023. Economic losses from heat in 2024 were estimated at $1.09 trillion.

Last year, governments spent $956 billion on fossil fuel subsidies—three times more than they spent on aid to climate-vulnerable countries. In 15 countries, such subsidies exceeded the entire healthcare budget.

There is hope

The report not only warns of disaster but also cites positive examples. Reducing air pollution from coal-fired power generation between 2010 and 2022 prevented 160,000 premature deaths annually. Renewable energy reached 12 percent of the total energy sector, creating 16 million jobs. Two-thirds of medical students in 2024 received training in climate and health.

"The solutions already exist. Cities, communities, and local governments are demonstrating that progress is possible," says Dr. Marina Romanello, executive director of the Lancet Countdown. She claims that phasing out fossil fuels and transitioning to clean energy and healthy diets will help save more than 10 million lives annually.

The healthcare sector is at the forefront

The health sector is demonstrating leadership: healthcare-related greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 16 percent in 2021–2022. Sixty percent of countries have completed national health system adaptation plans, and 58 percent have completed vulnerability assessments.

In the lead-up to the climate conference in Brazil, the Lancet Countdown report has become a key argument for urgent action. The WHO is preparing a special report that will form part of the Belém Action Plan, the summit's expected outcome.

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October 28, 2025 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: a report on "genocidal acts" in Gaza, the Caribbean region under attack by Hurricane Melissa, the death of migrants off the coast of Libya, the consequences of communication restrictions in Afghanistan.

Report on Palestine

Introducing new report of the UN Independent International Commission The UN Office of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, chairperson Navi Pillay, stated that Israel had committed "four genocidal acts" in Gaza, and that Israeli leaders had "incited genocide." Pillay described the situation in the enclave as "the most ruthless, sustained, and widespread assault on the Palestinian people in history." She called on UN member states to ensure justice and accountability.

Hurricane Melissa

Residents of Jamaica and other Caribbean countries found themselves in the area of the powerful hurricane MelissaIn recent days, the UN and its humanitarian partners have warned of a "critical" and "imminent" threat. The Category 5 hurricane is the most powerful to hit the planet this year. The lives of a million people are at risk, including families still recovering from Hurricane Beryl, which devastated the region 16 months ago. Thanks to pre-positioning supplies ahead of hurricane season, the World Food Programme has mobilized efforts to deliver humanitarian supplies from Barbados.

Death of migrants

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) expresses its condolences following the incident that occurred earlier today off the coast of Surman, Libya. A wooden boat carrying migrants from several countries capsized due to strong waves. Sixty-four people were rescued, but 18 tragically died. IOM is working with local partners to ensure those affected have access to medical and psychological care. The organization reiterated its call for strengthened regional cooperation, expanded safe and legal migration routes, and timely rescue operations.

Violations in Afghanistan

Internet and telecommunications were shut down in Afghanistan last month. aggravated the difficulties, which the country's population already faces. This is according to a report released today by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The report's authors described a number of violations related to communications restrictions. These include a lack of access to medical care and emergency services, the disruption of humanitarian operations, and the intensification of existing discriminatory restrictions against women and girls.

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October 28, 2025 Human rights

The chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Navi Pillay, told a UN General Assembly committee on Tuesday that Israel had committed "four genocidal acts" in Gaza and that its political leaders had "incited the commission of genocide."

Introducing the commission's latest report, Pillay said the experts' findings were based on a legal analysis conducted in accordance with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

"We concluded that the State of Israel was responsible for committing four genocidal acts in Gaza with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinian people in Gaza as such," she said. "The commission also found that the President, Prime Minister, and former Minister of Defense of Israel incited the commission of genocide."

Pillay, the former head of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, described the situation in Gaza as "the most brutal, sustained and widespread attack on the Palestinian people in history."

Irreparable losses

Pillay noted that while the ceasefire and the release of hostages and prisoners offer hope, it cannot reverse the damage already done: "The Gaza Strip lies in ruins and is virtually uninhabitable."

According to her, Israeli officials publicly supported plans for deportation, settlement construction, and territorial annexation. Although the ceasefire has put these plans on hold, "recent statements by Israeli officials make it clear that these goals remain valid."

Occupied West Bank

The commission found that in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israeli policy since October 2023 – along with explicit and implicit support for settler violence – “demonstrates a clear intent to forcibly transfer Palestinians, expand the presence of Israeli Jewish civilians, and annex most of the West Bank.”

The aim of this policy, according to Pillay, is “to prevent any possibility of Palestinian self-determination and statehood, and to maintain the indefinite occupation.”

Bringing to justice

Pillay called on UN member states to ensure justice and accountability by supporting International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations and using universal jurisdiction to prosecute suspects, including dual nationals.

"It pains me to realize that in this, my final speech as chair of this commission, I am forced to acknowledge that the post-war multilateral system failed to prevent this genocide," she said. "The international system has proven itself to be a failure."

In closing her remarks, Pillay called for "truth and reconciliation," adding that peace can only "take root and flourish" through justice.

Read also:

Gaza: Independent International Commission of Inquiry Accuses Israel of Genocide

Call for a permanent ceasefire

Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, also addressed the General Assembly committee. In her speech, she emphasized the need for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Albanese called on Member States to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from all occupied territories and the dismantling of Israeli settlements. Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur believes, countries must suspend all military, trade, and diplomatic ties with Israel "until it ends genocide, illegal occupation, and apartheid."

"This is how we will begin to honor the memory of those who perished. And if the Security Council is paralyzed, this Assembly must act in a spirit of unity for peace with greater resolve than ever before," she added.

Special Rapporteurs and other human rights experts appointed under the special procedures of the Human Rights Council are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They do not receive a salary for their work.

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October 28, 2025 Human rights

The 48-hour internet and telecommunications shutdown in Afghanistan last month exacerbated the hardships already facing the country's population, according to a report released today by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

The report is based on more than 100 interviews conducted after the nationwide communications blackout implemented by the de facto authorities from September 29 to October 1, 2025.

Implications for human rights

As noted in the document, the healthcare system, the banking sector, small businesses, and essential services cannot function without telecommunications.

The report's authors described a number of identified human rights violations related to communications restrictions. These include delays in medical care or lack of access to healthcare and emergency services, disruption of humanitarian operations, the escalation of existing discriminatory restrictions against women and girls, interference in the daily and family lives of citizens, and the shutdown of local businesses and the banking system.

The situation of women and girls

Women and girls in Afghanistan are already facing the strictest restrictions in the world. As evidence shows, their lives became even more difficult during the communication blackout.

Some women, for example, were unable to contact their male relatives—mahrams. In Afghanistan, women are prohibited from traveling more than 78 kilometers or driving without a mahram. In some areas, such men must accompany women even on their way to work, shopping, or doctor's appointments. One Afghan woman recounted, "I couldn't call my father to come pick me up. I had to walk home. I was terrified, but luckily, I got home within an hour."

For many Afghan women, online learning remains the only option for education, as de facto authorities banned education for women and girls after sixth grade. One student said, "Those were terrible days and nights. We were desperate and afraid we'd be thrown back to the Stone Age. It was unbearable."

Violations in the healthcare sector

Healthcare workers described deaths that could have been prevented with functioning communications. At a hospital in Laghman province, a pregnant woman with severe bleeding needed urgent transport to the regional hospital, but the local ambulance broke down, and no other service could be reached. The baby died, and the mother survived, but she has complications. A nurse said, "I'm trained to save lives, but without communication, I felt completely helpless."

Help for earthquake victims

Humanitarian organizations reported that the communication outage disrupted their work, resulting in the delay of vital aid to those in need. During the communications disruption, humanitarian missions provided support. victims of the earthquake on August 31 in the provinces of Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar, and also carried out operations in connection with the mass return of Afghans from Pakistan.

The UN emphasizes that the communications blackout and other restrictions violate the rights to freedom of expression and access to information, contrary to Afghanistan's human rights obligations. The de facto authorities have not yet publicly explained the reasons for these restrictions.

As the report emphasizes, authorities are obliged to comply with international human rights standards, and any restrictions must be carried out within the law and in accordance with the principles of necessity and proportionality to the objectives pursued.

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October 28, 2025 Peace and security

Speaking at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for the Central African Republic (CAR), Valentina Rugwabiza, presented an updated report on the situation in the country, highlighting the achievements of the UN Stabilization Mission in the CAR (MINUSCA) and calling for its mandate to be extended amid ongoing regional instability.

Peace process: steps forward

According to Rugwabiza, the peace process has made significant progress since the signing of the ceasefire agreement on April 19 between the CAR government and the most active armed groups. Ceremonies were held in July and October at which group leaders confirmed their return to the political agreement. As a result, 11 of the 14 signatories to the peace agreement have now officially disarmed.

MINUSCA actively supports the disarmament and demobilization process. Since July, more than 700 rebels have laid down their arms thanks to the mission's technical, logistical, and other support.

Preparing for the elections: progress and challenges

The presidential, parliamentary, regional, and municipal elections scheduled for December 28 are seen as a key moment for strengthening state authority and institutional stability. The National Electoral Agency has completed voter registration, adding over 2.3 million people to the voter lists, nearly half of whom are women.

The CAR government has allocated an additional $7.8 million to the electoral fund, but a funding gap of $12 million remains. Rugwabiza called on international partners to urgently fill this gap to ensure the timely and secure conduct of the vote.

Security Threats: The Impact of Conflict in Sudan

Despite improvements in several regions, the eastern and northeastern prefectures of the Central African Republic remain vulnerable. In October, Rugwabiza visited border areas where the impact of the conflict in neighboring Sudan has intensified. Border crossings by armed groups have led to the mass displacement of civilians. MINUSCA has strengthened its protection of civilians and facilitated the return of displaced persons to their communities.

Regional cooperation and government support

On September 27, a joint CAR-Chad force was formed in Chad, marking an important step towards ensuring security on the shared border.

MINUSCA continues to support local governors and prefects, particularly in remote border areas, but additional international support is needed to ensure a successful handover of security responsibilities to national forces.

Financial difficulties and a call for an extension of the mandate

MINUSCA has faced funding cuts, forcing the mission to begin cost-cutting measures by 15 percent in the current financial year. This includes staff reductions and curtailing operations, which, according to Rugwabiza, jeopardizes the mission's mandate during a critical period.

The Secretary-General's Special Representative called on the Security Council to extend MINUSCA's mandate for another year, emphasizing that the mission remains a key element in ensuring peace and stability not only in the CAR but throughout the region.

In closing, Rugwabiza expressed her gratitude to all MINUSCA staff, troop- and police-contributing countries, and humanitarian and donor organizations for their contribution to peace and security in the Central African Republic.

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October 28, 2025 Climate and environment

Millions of people in Jamaica and other Caribbean countries are bracing for the powerful impact of Hurricane Melissa. The UN and its humanitarian partners are warning of a "critical" and "imminent" threat.

Speaking to reporters hours before the storm was expected to hit, a spokesman for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said the Category 5 hurricane would be the most powerful to hit the planet this year and would threaten the lives of a million people – including families still recovering from Hurricane Beryl, which struck Jamaica 16 months ago.

"Roofs will be tested. Water levels will rise. Many will be isolated," warned Nesephore Mghendi, head of the Red Cross office for the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.

"Many buildings are expected to be completely destroyed," added Anne-Claire Fontan, a tropical cyclone specialist with the World Meteorological Organization, quoting a statement from the U.S. National Hurricane Center. "I've never seen that wording before… This is going to be a massive blow to Jamaica."

The first victims

Wind speeds at the hurricane's epicenter are currently reaching 280 kilometers per hour. Heavy rains continue to fall across the region, with deaths already reported in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. According to Anne-Claire Fontan, the hurricane will bring three times the rainfall of the region's wettest month of the year—up to 700 mm.

"This means catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides," she explained. "In addition to rain and damaging winds, a storm surge of three to four meters, plus huge waves, is expected on the southern coast of Jamaica."

Speaking from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Nesefor Mghendi noted that the hurricane is moving slowly – about six kilometers per hour – but extreme rainfall and winds will lead to “severe damage to infrastructure, isolation of communities and the loss of essential services for days, if not weeks.”

He noted that coastal communities are experiencing financial difficulties following the impact of the previous hurricane. Informal settlements are particularly vulnerable, as heavily waterlogged soil increases the risk of landslides.

"Save as many lives as possible"

"The main goal is to save as many lives as possible," stressed Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

According to Nesephor Mghendi, Jamaican authorities have prepared approximately 800 shelters. Volunteers are assisting with evacuations, distributing humanitarian aid, and strengthening the early warning system.

Laerke added that, as part of the preventive mechanism activated by the UN, four million dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund have been allocated for Cuba and Haiti to stockpile food, water, hygiene products, and medical supplies.

"What do people need to survive? Food, clean water, shelter, and medical care," he said. "When large-scale floods occur, clean water becomes scarce, leading to increased epidemiological risks."

When asked about the availability of humanitarian supplies, Mghendi stated that resources to assist 800 households have already been deployed in Jamaica. Furthermore, supplies for 60,000 households can be delivered to Jamaica and other Caribbean countries "within four hours."

"After their distribution, replenishment of supplies will be necessary, and we are counting on global solidarity," he emphasized. "At times like these, the world unites, and we expect that to be the case now. This is one of the 'storms of the century,' and I believe the global community will respond as one."

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October 28, 2025 Human rights

The abuse of national and public security laws in Russia to silence critics of the war against Ukraine has reached alarming levels, stated UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation Mariana Katsarova. She presented her new report to the UN General Assembly.

Politically motivated charges

"Over the past three years, thousands of people have been imprisoned on politically motivated charges of treason, espionage, extremism, and terrorism, often based on fabricated evidence and in closed trials, with children and the elderly among those detained," Katsarova said in the report.

"In myreport “There is a persistent trend of using national security and public safety laws as a weapon to criminalize dissent and narrow the space for civic activity,” the Special Rapporteur noted.

According to her, since 2022, the number of prosecutions for treason has increased sharply – from dozens of cases before 2020 to 760 convictions by mid-2025. Espionage, according to Katsarova, has become widely used as a tool with a broad definition, particularly in the context of the war against Ukraine.

According to her report, before the full-scale invasion, there were five cases involving defendants accused of espionage, and by mid-2025, there were 159 such cases involving 182 defendants. Often, espionage charges were combined with terrorism charges, which can lead to harsher sentences.

Initiation of cases of terrorism and extremism

In 2025, Russian courts will issue more than five terrorism-related verdicts per day, a record high. Meanwhile, the national "List of Terrorists and Extremists" has grown from 1,600 names in 2022 to over 18,000 in 2025. The list includes more than 150 children and hundreds of organizations, according to Katsarova's report.

On October 14, the Federal Security Service announced it had opened a terrorism case against 22 members of the exiled Anti-War Committee of Russia.

"This demonstrates the authorities' determination to extend repression beyond national borders," Katsarova warned.

According to her, those being persecuted include prominent opposition politicians, businessmen, journalists, lawyers, cultural figures, and academics who criticize the war against Ukraine.

The Special Rapporteur noted that on October 22, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office demanded that the Supreme Court recognize the Anti-Corruption Foundation of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny as a "terrorist organization."

According to Katsarova's report, "extremism" provisions, which have no basis in international law, are being used to persecute anti-war critics, independent journalists, and individuals associated with Navalny. The term "extremist" is also applied to members of religious and ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, and the LGBT community. Hundreds of convictions for alleged "extremism" have been handed down, including over 100 in cases related to the activities of the LGBT community.

"Ukrainian prisoners are being tortured."

The report also details systematic torture and cruel treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians held in Russian custody. Most of the Ukrainian prisoners facing trial, Katsarova reports, are accused of espionage and terrorism and face lengthy prison sentences.

"Ukrainian prisoners are starved, deprived of medical care, and subjected to torture, including rape and electric shock," the Special Rapporteur said, stating that she had collected credible evidence of medical personnel's involvement in torture. "Thousands of Ukrainian civilians deported to Russia remain missing; information about their fate and whereabouts is unknown," the expert noted.

Katsarova called for the immediate release of all persons detained in Russia on political grounds, as well as for the immediate release of Ukrainian civilians in detention, including children, for accountability for torture and deaths in custody, and for an end to Russia's abuse of national and public security laws to suppress dissent and opposition to the war.

"Justice is impossible to achieve in Russia; those responsible for crimes enjoy complete impunity. When justice fails domestically, the international community must take action, including through universal jurisdiction, to bring perpetrators to justice and protect those at risk," the Special Rapporteur concluded.

Special Rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to examine either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are members of special procedures Human Rights Council. Special procedures experts are not UN staff and are independent of any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.

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