1. The International Human Rights Treaty System

2. The 9 core human rights treaties (and its optional protocols)
The 10 treaty monitoring bodies
The reporting procedure

3. The International Bill of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
Optional Protocol (individual complaints) – 2008 (not yet in force)
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
1st Optional Protocol (individual complaints) -1966
2nd Optional Protocol (abolition of the death penalty)-1989

4. Treaties addressing specific phenomena
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), 1965
The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), 1984
Optional Protocol to CAT (inspections of places of deprivation of liberty) (OPCAT)- 2002
The Convention on Enforced Disappearances, 2006

5. Treaties protecting specific groups
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), 1979
Optional Protocol (communications)
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), 1989
OP on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
OP on the involvement of children in armed conflict
Optional Protocol (on communications in the making)
The International Convention for the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families , 1990
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006

6. Common features of the Treaties
Agreements concluded among States, adopted by the UN General Assembly
Establish normative framework for human rights and legal obligations of States under international law
Establish monitoring mechanisms and procedures
Require States parties to report periodically to the treaty bodies (generally every 2 to 5 years)
Allow possibility for individuals to submit complaints (ICCPR/OP, ICESCR/OP, ICERD, CAT, CEDAW/OP, CRPD/OP, ICRMW)
Some have inquiry procedures (CAT, CEDAW/OP, CRPD/OP, CED)
Establish procedures for States parties to submit complaints against other States parties (ICCPR, CERD, CAT, CMW, CED)

7. Incorporation of treaties into domestic law
Treaty is considered superior to domestic law (MONISM) (non self-executing treaties still require incorporation)
Treaty has no domestic legal effect unless it is formally incorporated into domestic law by the appropriate legislative process (DUALISM)
(self-executing treaties can be implemented even if not specifically incorporated into domestic order)

8. Status of ratification of the nine core human rights treaties
3 May 2011 8 8

9. The Treaty Bodies “Bringing Human Rights Home”
Screening of the DVD on the treaty body system

10. The Treaty Bodies (Committees)

11. Treaty Bodies - The Committees
Established under the respective treaties
Most consist of 18 experts, (CAT has 10 and SPT has 25 experts)
Independent experts serving in their personal capacity
Serve 4-year terms (renewable (only once in the case of CRPD and CED)
Equitable geographic distribution
Meet in sessions 2 or 3 times per year in Geneva (HRC, and CEDAW also in New York)
Serviced by the UN Secretariat (OHCHR)

12. Main functions Monitors the implementation of the treaties
- Examination of periodic reports by States parties (all, except for SPT)
- Examination of individual complaints/communications (HRC, CERD, CAT, CEDAW, CRPD, CED, CESCR and CMW )
- Inquiries into specific human rights situations
(CAT, CEDAW, CRPD, CED)
Normative interpretation and clarification of treaties
- General comments (and statements)
Cooperate with UN organs/organizations and NGOs
SPT (conducts on-site visits to places of deprivation of liberty in State parties)

13. The UN HR treaty system

14. The Reporting Cycle
States must report periodically to the treaty bodies, according to the reporting guidelines
The treaty body conducts a preliminary review in pre-sessional working group, usually ask supplementary questions (List of Issues)
State party submits its answers, usually in writing
A Government delegation and the treaty body engage in a face-to-face « constructive dialogue » over 1 or 2 days, as TB members seek to understand the actual level of enjoyment of the rights
TB issues concluding observations
Info on follow-up to the concluding observations usually expected in the next report to be submitted, (for some TBs also within one or two years from the adoption of the COs –(see follow-up procedures)).

15. Reporting Cycle Submission of the report List of issues and questions
State replies to list of issues and questions
Constructive dialogue
Adoption of Concluding Observations
Follow up on implementa-tion 15 15

16. Periodicity of the reporting procedures
Treaty
Initial report within
Periodic reports every
ICERD
1 year
2 years
ICESCR
5 years
ICCPR
4 years
CEDAW
CAT
CRC
ICRMW
CRC-OPSC
5 years or with next CRC report
CRC-OPAC
CRPD
CED
Additional information as requested by CED
(art. 29(4))
[1] With a two year periodicity specified in the treaty, ICERD allows for merging two reports in one (i.e. de facto periodicity of four years).
2 Article 17 of the Covenant does not establish a reporting periodicity, but gives ECOSOC discretion to establish its own reporting programme.
[2] Article 17 of the Covenant does not establish a reporting periodicity, but gives ECOSOC discretion to establish its own reporting programme.
[3] Article 41 of the Covenant gives the Human Rights Committee discretion to decide when periodic reports shall be submitted. In general, these are required every four years.

17. Review of non-reporting States
Practice of Human Rights Committee, CERD and CESCR
States parties with long overdue reports are selected for review, without a report from the State party, based on information from other sources (United Nations, other international or regional organizations, NGOs)

18. List of Issues Prior to Reporting
Optional reporting procedure
Consists in the adoption of lists of issues to assist States parties to prepare their periodic reports
The State party's response to this list of issues constitutes the State party's periodic report
Practice of CAT, HRC, CMW
One of the tools to assist non-reporting states to fullfil their reporting obligations

19. Follow-up procedures
Formal procedures to monitor more closely the implementation of specific concluding observations in between two reporting cycles
Consists in requesting States to provide a written report within one or two years from the adoption of the Cos
Practice of HRC, CAT, CEDAW, CERD

20. The obligation to report Reporting creates an occasion for:
Regular monitoring of the situation of each right and all disadvantaged groups
Establishing a basis for comparison of future progress
Engaging int’l experts in an objective review of strengths and weaknesses
Facilitating info exchange among States, int’l cooperation

21. THUS, the reporting process can:
Enable Governments to know their own national situations through:
Legislative review
Meaningful data collection
Raise awareness among, enlist assistance from civil society
Create an opportunity for national dialogue
Enable countries to benefit from the experience of international experts

22. Participation of Civil Society
Participation of civil society and NGOs is crucial to the Committees’ work
The Committees welcome and encourage NGOs to contribute to its activities

23. Forms of NGO participation in the Committees’ work
Encourage governments to make a comprehensive and accurate report
Encourage participation of all concerned in particular the disadvantaged and marginalized groups
Publish fact that report on human rights is being prepared

24. Forms of NGO participation in the Committee’s work (cont’d)
Information can be submitted in written form (« parallel report ») or orally to the Secretariat of the Committees
Written information can be provided at all times prior to the examination of the report
Oral presentations: at « lunchtime briefings » held during Committee session
Continued contact with Committee members during the session and inter-sessionally

25. NGO monitoring at the international level
Prepare an alternative report – coordinated consolidated report
Focus attention on urgent issues
Provision of concise and up-to-date country information to complement the State report
Attendance at Committee sessions
Interaction with Committee members in-session

26. NGO monitoring activities at the national level
Awareness – raising, at national level, of the Covenant and of Committee activities (though use of the media and human rights education)
follow – up to concluding observations of the Committee at the national level
Interaction and cooperation with the Government or with national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights

27. The complaints procedures (1)
OPTIONAL - HRC, CERD, CAT, CEDAW, , CRPD, CED, CESCR and CMW
DEMONSTRATES REAL COMMITMENT of Govts to protect human rights
ADMISSIBILITY CRITERIA
Cannot be anonymous
Cannot be under examination by another int’l body
Cannot be abusive
Must relate to specific occurrences, alleging violation of specific rights
Domestic remedies must be exhausted

28. The complaints procedures (2)
THE PROCEDURE
Individual submits a written complaint to relevant treaty body
State party is requested to comment on the complaint - petitioner and concerned State party has opportunity to reply to every relevant fact that emerges
Committee issues its “views” on the complaint
Committee follows up with concerned State party about implementation of its views

29. TBs and the UPR Commonalities:
UPR process is complementary to TBs’ work and vice versa
Potentially efficient follow-up procedure on recommendations of both organs
Differences:
TBs – Independent bodies of experts, bind only States parties
UPR – Universal Charter-based, States driven diplomatic mechanism

30. CHART OF UPR RECOMMENDATIONS ON REPORTING TO THE TREATY BODIES
Enjoy the support
No clear position
To be tailored to the State party
idem 30

31. TBs and Special Procedures
Commonalities:
Special Procedures are complimentary to TBs’ work and vice versa
Potentially efficient follow-up procedure on recommendations of both organs
Independent mechanisms
Differences:
TBs bind only States parties,
SPs –Universal Charter-based mechanisms
SPs – effective rapid reaction and early warning mechanisms,
SPs - no strong periodicity of review mechanism, but depends on good will cooperation of UN member States

32. SUMMING UP : The responsibilities of States parties
Implementation - establish national systems for the protection of human rights (laws, rules, procedures, national institutions etc) and for providing remedy to victims
Continuous self-monitoring of the nat’l HR situation, measure progress over time
Reporting to treaty bodies periodically
Monitoring compliance by other States parties

33. SUMMING UP: The rights of States parties
Determining the composition of treaty bodies - nominate and elect members
Engaging in int’l dialogue - express and exchange views with treaty bodies and others

34. Further information Website www.ohchr.org:
Treaty Bodies’ Concluding Observations, GCs, Statements
Treaty Bodies’ sessions, press releases
Chairpersons’ meetings and Inter-Committee meetings
HRTD Newsletter (quarterly)
Status of ratifications, reservations and declarations
Website
Access and search Treaty Body, Special Procedure and (soon) UPR recommendations through several categories
Fact sheet No. 30 on ‘United Nations Human Rights Treaty System’ (being revised)
OHCHR Civil Society Handbook (Chapter IV)