Special Rapporteurs are independent experts that work on behalf of the U.N. They are not U.N. staff, but work in conjunction with the Human Rights Council by creating and compiling reports from countries and conducting visits to countries for field work. They combine all of this information to create reccomendations and induce governments to change practices and policies in order to protect and preserve human rights. These experts can also recieve information from everyday citizens or NGOs about human rights violations and will communicate direcltly with governement officials of the concerned country. They also spotlight human rights concerns statements made in press releases as well.
In late May, the Special Rapporteur on Racial Discrimination Mr. Doudou Diene toured the United States for three weeks. His findings will be submitted as a report to the U.N. Human Rights Council. Advocates here at home hope to use the power of the Diene's findings to push for change here at home. NLCHP helped facilitate the final public hearing for the Mr. Diene, "Racism in the District: An International Inquiry," where grassroots organizations and citizens testified directly before the Special Rapporteur about their experiences of racism here in the nation's capital.
Other Special Rapporteurs who should be utilized for protecting a right to housing:
| UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing as a Component of the Right to an Adequate Standard of Living |
| UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food |
| UN Independent Expert on the Question of Human Rights and Extreme Poverty |
| UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and other forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment |
| UN Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights |
| UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance |
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