Human Rights Council

Forty- fourth session

30 June–17 July 2020

Agenda item 3

P romotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 16 July 2020

44 / 8. Mandate of the Special Ra pporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers

The Human Rights Council,

Recalling all its previous resolutions and decisions, as well as those of the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly, on the independence of the judiciary and on the integrity of the judicial system,

Convinced that an independent and impartial judiciary, an independent legal profession, an objective and impartial prosecution able to perform its functions accordingly, and the integrity of the judicial system are essential prerequisites for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the application of the rule of law and for ensuring fair trials without any discrimination,

Condemning the increasingly frequent attacks on the independence of judges, lawyers, prosecutors and court officials, in particular threats, intimidation and interference in the discharge of their professional functions,

Recalling its resolutions 5/1, on institution-building of the Human Rights Council, and 5/2, on the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate Holders of the Council, of 18 June 2007, and stressing that the mandate holder shall discharge his or her duties in accordance with those resolutions and the annexes thereto,

1.Commends the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers for the important work undertaken in the discharge of the mandate;

2.Decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers for a period of three years, on the same terms as provided by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 35/11 of 22 June 2017;

3.Urges all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of his or her tasks, to provide all necessary information requested by him or her, to respond to communications transmitted to them by the Special Rapporteur without undue delay, to consider responding favourably to his or her requests for visits and to consider implementing his or her recommendations;

4.Encourages the United Nations, including its specialized agencies, as well as regional organizations, national human rights institutions, independent experts, bar associations, professional associations of judges and prosecutors, non-governmental organizations and other relevant stakeholders, to cooperate to the fullest extent possible with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his or her mandate;

5.Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the human and financial resources necessary for the effective fulfilment of his or her mandate;

6.Decides to continue consideration of this issue in accordance with its annual programme of work.

27th meeting 16 July 2020

[Adopted without a vote.]