Background Note - Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has the mandate to investigate cases of deprivation of liberty imposed arbitrarily or inconsistently with the international standards set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, or the international legal instruments accepted by the States concerned. The WG is composed of five independent experts of balanced geographical representation. Together, they investigate individual cases and produce reports and opinions in order to fulfil the mandate. The mandate of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was most recently extended by Human Rights Council resolution 42/22 in September 2019 for a further three-year period.