The United Nations (UN) thematic mechanisms consist of a number of special rapporteurs, representatives, independent experts or working groups appointed usually by the UN Commission on Human Rights (the Commission) to look at specific types of human rights violations wherever in the world they occur. This paper reflects the mandates of the thematic mechanisms following the 58th session of the Commission, held from 18 March to 26 April 2002, and updates the Amnesty International/Law Society of England and Wales’ guide entitled The United Nations Human Rights Thematic Mechanisms, (AI Index IOR 40/20/00) published in 2000
