The present report presents the existing international and regional standards relating to prosecutors and prosecution services and provides a brief outline of activities carried out by the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers in 2011.  The report  analyses the role and responsibilities of prosecutors and the wide diversity of systems that exist within prosecution services globally. The relationship between prosecutors and other actors within the criminal justice system (ie: police, judiciary, lawyers etc) is examined, along with safeguards for prosecutors, as well as elements that may have an impact on their independence and impartiality. The Special Rapporteur underlines the importance of developing a skilled and competent prosecution service through appropriate capacity-building and concludes with a series of recommendations. Reference is made to the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.