Expanding or diluting human rights? The proliferation of United Nations special procedures mandates

The United Nations Special Procedures system was described by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as ‘the crown jewel’ of the UN Human Rights Machinery. Yet, in recent years the system has expanded rapidly, driven by states creating new mandates frequently on topics not traditionally viewed as human rights. This article explores the connection between forms of governance and the states voting for and promoting these newer mandates. We explore states’ potential motivations for expanding the system and the impact on international human rights law. The article forms an important part of discussions about Special Procedures and about rights proliferation.