COVID-19: Joint NGO letter sent to UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies

Date: 28th May 2020
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

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Over 40 NGOs issue a joint letter to encourage United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies to explore all possible options to ensure continuous monitoring of States’ compliance with their treaty obligations during the crisis.

The letter encourages the United Nation’s Treaty Bodies to explore all possible options to undertake their mandated activities remotely, following the suspension of all in-person sessions until June, with possible extension to also include the summer sessions.

Promising practices have been undertaken by several United Nation’s Treaty Bodies, for example the Committee on Enforced Disappearances is to hold its session online, during which it will adopt Lists of Issues for future reviews. The letter goes onto urge the United Nation’s Treaty Bodies to consider adopting these promising practices and where relevant replicate them across the treaty body system.

Read the joint letter in full here.