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Thank you, Mr. President: The United States appreciates the work Ambassador Husak has done in guiding the Working Group on the Review of Mandates and his thorough summary of the discussions to date. Our aim in the review process should be to enhance the Special Procedures' efficacy in promoting and protecting human rights. Given the limited time we have today, I will briefly address areas of particular interest to the United States. Human rights violations do not occur in a vacuum, Mr. President. Abuses or failures to protect happen in particular countries. The Council needs to keep the most effective tools for addressing those violations; that means retaining both thematic and country specific mandates. That also means that the same rules should apply within the Council for the creation of new mandates, whether they be thematic or country specific. As there are already more than forty special procedures and in light of the budgetary implications of this proliferation of mandates, we would favor combining existing procedures and the exercise of caution before creating new thematic mandates. In this regard, we also encourage mandate holders to conduct joint visits and to issue joint communications when appropriate. The appointment of independent, impartial and professional experts as mandate holders is essential to maintaining the credibility of the Special Procedures system. This can best be assured by having regional groups, NGOs, and states nominate candidates from which the President of the Council in consultation with the Office of the High Commissioner would select the mandate holder. Mandate holders should not hold more than one UN mandate at a time and should not serve more than two three-year consecutive terms. The review process must also assure that the Special Procedures are staffed by professional and experienced personnel. We encourage OHCHR to continue to work in this area. And to assure professional high standards and consistency in the work of the mandate holders, they should be held to standard procedures and best practices, as set forth in a manual approved by Member States on the conduct of mandate holders. The relationship between governments and the Special Procedures is a key element of the success of the mechanism. In an effort to establish a more cooperative approach, communications from mandate holders to States requesting information related to allegations of human rights violations should include as much information as possible. The mandate-holders should allow adequate time in order to assist States in their efforts to investigate such allegations, but States should make every effort to reply to communications from the Special Procedures by the stated deadline. Thank you.
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