Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups
A Special Rapporteur is an individual appointed by the UN to to investigate and recommend solutions to a specific human rights problem. They can be appointed to look at countries or at a problem (‘thematic mandates’). Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups (known as ‘special mandate holders’) can bring attention to an issue in between Universal Periodic Reviews for your country.
Any individual or NGO can make a submission to these special mandate holders on issues relevant to them, although an NGO may add credibility to the claims. There are usually requirements also for making submissions. The mandate holder will then communicate with the relevant government, and the outcome of this will be presented at the next general session.