UN Treaty Body chairs publish paper on future of system

Date: 15th July 2019
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC, Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

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Following their 31st meeting last week in New York, the 10 chairpersons of the UN treaty bodies have issued a Position Paper on the future of the treaty body system.

The position paper follows several years of consultation and discussion. The guiding principle that has underpinned this process has been the increased protection of rights holders through strengthened implementation of the treaties.

The Chairs agree on a general alignment of procedures and working methods. The Chairs also agree on an increase of the treaty bodies’ capacity to review state party reports and individual communication, as well as to offer to states to conduct reviews at regional level on a pilot basis.

TB-Net, a network of seven organisations working closely with the UN treaty bodies has published a related statement. This sets out the network’s mission to support the effectiveness of the treaty bodies, and its belief that they should be seen as one system of equal bodies, whilst respecting the independence and specificity of each.