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OHCHR 
Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
Purpose of the mandate
For those living in extreme poverty, many human rights are out of reach. This mandate was created to:
- Give greater prominence to the plight of those living in extreme poverty
- Highlight the human rights consequences of the systematic neglect to which they are subjected.
Learn more about why extreme poverty is an urgent human rights issue.
About the mandate
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights first established the mandate on extreme poverty in 1998. It was taken over by the Human Rights Council, which replaced the Commission, in June 2006. Through its resolutions 8/11 and 62/28 , the Human Rights Council requests the Special Rapporteur to examine and report back to Member States on initiatives taken to promote and protect the rights of those living in extreme poverty, with a view to advancing the eradication of such poverty.
Current mandate holder
Ms. Elena Carolina Díaz Galán (Spain) was appointed as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights by the Human Rights Council at its sixty-first session, held in March 2026. She is Professor of Public International Law and International Relations at Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid. Spain. She is an academic specializing in poverty eradication, human rights and sustainable development with extensive publications in these fields. She has led various projects related to fighting against feminization of poverty; groups in situations of vulnerability; and the European Union and Latin America and Caribbean relations. She was a member of the SDG-FUND–URJC Academic Chair on Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication, as well as the Research Chair on Sustainability, Social Inclusion, Diversity and Human Rights at Carlos III University of Madrid. She has delivered lectures in Universities of America, Asia, Europe and Africa; and she has conducted research stays in prestigious Universities abroad.
Calls for Input
Key documents
The Guiding Principles on extreme poverty and human rights
The Human Rights Council adopted the Guiding Principles at its 21st session in September 2012. These were the first global policy guidelines focusing specifically on the human rights of people living in poverty. They are intended as a practical tool for policy-makers to ensure that public policies and poverty eradication efforts reach the poorest members of society, respect and uphold their rights, and take into account the social, cultural, economic and structural obstacles to human rights enjoyment faced by persons living in poverty.
Latest thematic reports
Contact Information
Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Email:
hrc-sr-extremepoverty@un.org
Previous mandate holders
Mr. Olivier De Schutter (Belgium),
April 2020 - April 2026
Mr. Philip Alston (Australia),
June 2014 - April 2020
Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona (Chile),
May 2008 - June 2014
Mr. Arjun Sengupta (India),
August 2004 - April 2008
Ms. A. M. Lizin (Belgium),
April 1998 - July 2004
Videos
Presentation to the UN Human Rights Council - 25 June 2026
For the full interactive dialogue in all UN languages:
Activities
18 March 2026
Social Rights: An Essential Component of the Fight Against Poverty - Joint Statement of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights on the occasion of the Council of Europe High-Level Conference on Social Rights
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