It is generally agreed that the UN Treaty Body System could be more efficient and effective in its work of monitoring and promoting the implementation of the international human rights treaties. There have been a number of initiatives around the harmonisation of the working methods of the Treaty Bodies. In particular the annual meeting of Chairpersons of Treaty Bodies and the Inter-Committee Meeting provide a forum for the members of the different Committees to discuss the harmonisation of working methods. In November 2009 the Dublin Statement on the Process of Strengthening of the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Body Systems relaunched a wider discussion on reform of the Treaty Body system.
Documents on Treaty Body Reform:
Pretoria Statement on the Strengthening and Reform of the UN Human Rights Treaty Body System
Statement adopted by the NGOs present at the Civil Society Consultation on Treaty Body Strengthening, organized by the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria on 20 and 21 June 2011. Any organisation that wishes to endorse the statement will be able to do so through the OHCHR site http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/HRTD/hrtd_process.htm. Endorsements should be made by 15 August.
Joint NGO Statement to the UN Human Rights Committee on Improving Civil Society Engagment (11 July 2011)
Statement by the NGOs on improving civil society engagment with the UN Human Rights Committee. The webcast of the meeting at which this statement was made can be watched at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/15931199
Statement adopted by the NGOs present at the Civil Society Consultation on Treaty Body Strengthening, organized by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and the Korea Foundation, in Seoul on 19 and 20 April 2011
This Statement is open to endorsement by other NGOs. It is hoped to have as many endorsements as possible before the statement is published on the OHCHR website and before the Inter-Committee Meeting, which starts on 27 June. If your organization wishes to endorse the Seoul Statement, please send a notification preferably before 20 June to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Joint NGO Response to the Dublin Statement on the Process of Strengthening of the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Body System (30 November 2010). Statement by NGOs
Poznan Statement on the Reform of the UN Human Rights Treaty Body System (28-29 September 2010). Statement by current and former treaty bodies members acting in a personal capacity.
Marrakech Statement on Strengthening the Relationship between NHRIs and the Human Rights Treaty Bodies System (9-10 June 2010). Statement by National Human Rights Institutions
The Dublin Statement on the Process of Strengthening of the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Body System (19 November 2009). Statement by current and former treaty bodies members acting in a personal capacity.
