1. SEO Meeting 2012 International human rights system

2. Human rights treaty bodies
Content
Evolution
Key and new opportunities
APF engagement
Discussion
Human Rights Council
Human rights treaty bodies
General Assembly

3. Watershed moments
VDPA
Paris Principles
ICC accreditation

4. NHRI participation timeline
2005
CHR 2005/74
2007
HRC 5/1
2011
HRC review
HRC 17/9
GA 66/169
2012
HRC res.

5. Human Rights Council

6. Participation opportunities
Regular and special sessions of the Council
Allocated seating
Submission of written statements and reports
Oral statements under all 10 Council agenda items
Hosting of parallel events

7. Council mechanisms Advisory Committee (expert advice)
Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Forum on Minority Issues
Social Forum
Complaint Procedure (consistent patterns of gross and reliably attested violations)
Special Procedures (country/thematic)
Universal Periodic Review

8. Special Procedures Contribution to Special Procedures reports
Assisting mandate-holders during country missions
Transmitting communications
Nominating candidates for appointment
‘A’ status NHRIs may speak immediately after State during SP presentation after country visit
‘A’ status NHRIs may address the Council via video statement during a report on a SP country mission to their country. 

9. Universal Periodic Review
Submission of information (section of stakeholder report allocated to ‘A’ status NHRIs)
Attendance of UPR working group
Ability to speak immediately after State during the adoption of the report in plenary

11. Participation statistics (OHCHR, 2009)

12. Treaty bodies

13. Treaty bodies
CCPR
CESCR
CERD
CEDAW
CAT
SPT
CRC
CMW
CRPD
CPED

14. Contribution opportunities
Four TBs have developed formal guidelines on their working relationship with NHRIs (CEDAW, CERD, CRC, CCPR)
Submitting alternative/shadow reports
Contributing information toward treaty body communication procedures (inquiries, individual complaints and early warning/urgent action procedures)
Contributing to the development of lists of issues and general comments
Attending treaty body sessions and annual Inter-Committee Meetings (2006)

15. Contribution opportunities
Contribution to the development of treaties: CPRD, OP-ICESCR, OP-CRC establishing a communications procedure
Appointment as National Preventive Mechanisms under OPCAT and national implementation mechanisms under the CRPD
Treaty body strengthening process: Dublin meeting (November 2009), Marrakesh Statement (June 2010)

16. Participation statistics (OHCHR, 2009)

17. General Assembly

18. Contribution opportunities
Commission on the Status of Women
Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Open-ended Working Group on Ageing
Current treaty body strengthening process

19. APF engagement 2012 Human Rights Council resolution
Goal: To mainstream NHRI participation opportunities across the UN’s human rights-related work.
2012 Human Rights Council resolution
General Assembly’s treaty body strengthening process
Engagement with other General Assembly Commissions

20. Discussion Best practice examples
Have your experiences interacting with UN human rights mechanisms been positive or negative?
Are too many demands placed on NHRIs by these mechanisms and UN offices?
Have you prioritised some mechanisms? If so, which ones?
How do you incorporate contributions to the international system into strategic and budgetary planning?
How do we bridge the expectation/capacity divide when it comes to NHRI contribution opportunities at the UN?