Treaty Bodies

Side event at the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council, credit: Right Livelihood. Below: 2019 Laureate Davi Kopenawa speaking at a side event at the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council, credit: Right Livelihood

We facilitate change-makers’ engagement with experts to improve the implementation of human rights treaties.

Human rights are most often enshrined in international treaties under UN-auspices. All core human rights treaties – there are nine of them – require States Parties to take the appropriate measures to ensure that all those under their jurisdiction can enjoy the rights laid out in the treaty. Treaty bodies are committees of independent experts who are in charge of monitoring such implementation. States are therefore reviewed on a cyclical basis. After each session, the committees formulate “concluding observations,” which are recommendations to improve the implementation of the treaty at hand, which the state will have to follow up on before their next review.

We assist Laureates whose causes or situations are covered by a treaty in addressing the relevant committee. We provide technical assistance by drafting submissions and directly engaging with committee experts.

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  • UN Human Rights Council

    Engagement with the UN Human Rights Council is central to our advocacy work. We provide change-makers with strategic advice, and we ensure they have the tools and resources to address the Council and report about their concerns.

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  • Special Procedures

    We assist change-makers in addressing human rights violations and emergency situations. We regularly provide information to UN Special Procedures mandate holders, who monitor, report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective.

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  • Universal Periodic Review

    We support change-makers in engaging with the different phases of the Universal Periodic Review. We assist Laureates with compiling reports and providing information to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and work with State delegations to advance recommendations.

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