What are Special procedures and who are special Rapporteurs?

The Special Procedures give a voice to the voiceless victims of abuses.

The United Nations Human Rights Council's special rapporteurs and representatives, independent experts and working groups - collectively known as the "Special Procedures" - are among the most innovative, flexible and responsive tools created by the UN to promote and protect human rights.

Over the 40 years of their existence, the Special Procedures have made urgent interventions concerning thousands of individuals whose lives and physical integrity were at risk; through their country missions and studies, they have made recommendations for the improvement of human rights at the national and international levels; they have facilitated a better understanding and encouraged the development of human rights law.

The Special Procedures continue to play a unique role and are as essential to the improvement of human rights in the world in 2007 as they were in 1967, when the very first mandate was created.

Today their coverage ranges from freedom from torture, arbitrary or extrajudicial executions, "counter-terrorism", racism and violence against women to respect for the rights to health, to food and to adequate housing. They help to protect individuals and groups, such as migrants and indigenous peoples, and address situations of human rights violations both globally and in specific countries.

Other topics cover the harmful dangers of online gambling, where no software is currently capable of preventing children or underage teens from gambling online. The harming potential of online gambling is not to be neglected and Members of Congress are encouraged to enforce the ban on Internet gambling. Organization funded by the online casino industry are trying to lobby and influence politicians, but it is the duty of the special rapporteurs to uncover the worth abuses, some taking place in developing countries.

Often such Las Vegas type of gambling operations are conducted in close relation with other illegal activities of various kinds. It could be money laudering as casinos and now online casinos are an ideal venue to transform money obtained by illegal means into money that seems legitimate if it was earned at a gambling game. It can also be activities related to selling women's services, from adult or underage girls. Or this is also tightly associated with drugs dealing and wharehousing. But letting gambling operations remain in activity in the open, this is an invitation for all the related activities to use that as a shelter and it is the mission of the Special Procedures to control these businesses.

The job combines diplomatic and investigative skills, the work is hard, and at times it is hazardous.

Special rapporteurs are appointed by the United Nations to monitor and report on how people's human rights are protected or violated.

They are not paid.