Who this is relevant for
Start here if you suspect political prosecution, prosecutorial abuse, transnational repression, dangerous extradition or state surveillance. The pages are issue-specific guides, not declarations that every adverse government act is automatically a human-rights breach.
Scope and procedure
A single incident may engage different rights and procedures depending on the state, location and available evidence. For instance, a prosecution may raise judicial independence questions, but the correct mechanism depends on actual interference rather than the defendant's dissatisfaction with the judgment. A removal risk may demand local protective remedies long before international correspondence could occur.
Evidence, strategy and submission preparation
For any issue, prepare a fact matrix identifying conduct, actors, dates, documents, affected people and alleged rights. Record which facts are disputed and which are admitted by the authorities. This helps screen mechanisms without converting a complex case into an unsubstantiated accusation.
Practical checklist
- Select the issue closest to the alleged facts.
- Identify the state or private actor allegedly responsible.
- Prepare primary evidence before relying on press commentary.
- Record any immediate detention, removal or disclosure risk.
- Use the relevant issue guide to identify potential mandate and service pages.
Key considerations and documents
| Issue | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Political prosecution | Look for documented improper purpose, interference and unequal treatment. |
| Prosecutorial abuse | Distinguish ordinary legal errors from systemic or serious rights concerns. |
| Transnational repression | Map cross-border acts, state links and corroborating records. |
| Surveillance | Assess legality, necessity, proportionality and evidence of interference. |
What outcomes and limitations should you expect?
Our issue mapping does not replace specialised national litigation or establish UN jurisdiction. We will advise against filing where allegations cannot presently be substantiated or where immediate protection requires different action.
How our team can help
Our role is to translate an account of events into a documented, procedurally coherent submission strategy. We distinguish public information from confidential materials, identify thresholds relevant to each mechanism, and recommend an appropriate next step even when that means a national remedy or no UN filing at present.
Frequently asked questions
Is every wrongful conviction a UN case?
No. A credible rights violation and an available procedure must be identified; the UN is not a general fourth-instance appeal.
Can an issue fit more than one mandate?
Sometimes. Overlap should be based on distinct material facts, not merely repeated submissions.
What if I only have press reports?
Official Special Procedures guidance discourages information based exclusively on media reporting; seek first-hand and documentary corroboration.
Request an assessment
Tell us the issue, country and available evidence to map potentially relevant mechanisms.
Next step: Request a confidential case assessment.
Related pages
- Politically Motivated Prosecution and UN Human Rights Mechanisms
- Prosecutorial Abuse: When Can You Raise Human Rights Concerns at the UN?
- Transnational Repression and UN Human Rights Complaints
- Extradition, Deportation and Human Rights Complaints to the UN
Official references
Independent informational website. Not an official United Nations or OHCHR service. UN mechanisms assess matters independently; filing does not guarantee intervention, an outcome or a particular timeline.