ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on investigative mechanisms and independent fact-finding systems, as well as those systems through which organisations oversee all human rights. The human rights council and United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organisation both have systems for reviewing complaints against States, irrespective of their international human rights obligations. Commission powers in terms of economic and social council resolution 1253 1967 were viewed as complementary to those of the treaty monitoring bodies and indeed, the other organs of the United Nations organisation: the General Assembly or, more likely, the Security Council. The human rights council operates a system of special procedures, principally a system of mandates in furtherance of monitoring either specific human rights or specific countries or areas. The regional human rights systems are limited by the powers granted to the salient monitoring body in terms of the principal human rights instrument.
