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Treaty Body Members’ Platform

Started in January 2014

The United Nations (UN) human rights (HR) treaty bodies (TBs) are a central pillar of the international HR protection system. They prevent HR violations by warning states about areas of concern and by advising them on durable solutions. With the first TB created in the 1970s, the system has continuously grown, currently comprising 10 TBs and around 180 independent experts. Yet, coordination and possibilities for interaction in the system are limited, posing the danger of fragmentation or even contradiction in the output of these mechanisms.

CONNECTING EXPERTS

Launched in 2014 and hosted by the Geneva Academy, the Treaty Body Members’ Platform (TBMP) connects experts in UN TBs with each other as well as with Geneva-based practitioners, academics and diplomats to share expertise, exchange views on topical questions and develop synergies.

ADDRESSING KEY ISSUES

An average of ten meetings is organized every year allowing UN TB experts to reach out to other Geneva-based actors and apply their expertise to relevant discussions in the fields of sustainable development, migration, access to justice, humanitarian action, refugee law, disarmament, arms control or international humanitarian law.

TEAM

Felix Kirchmeier

Manager of Policy Studies and Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform

Felix Kirchmeier oversees the conceptualization, development and implementation of policy research at the Geneva Academy. He is also the Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

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Kamelia Kemileva

Senior Consultant

Kamelia Kemileva is an external consultant on selected mandates related to the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

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OUTPUT

2018: Focus on the Harmonization of UN TBs

Activities of the TBMP in 2018 included discussions on the harmonization of TBs, exchanges among peers and with external experts and other institutions on thematic issues, and briefings on the 2020 review of TBs by the UN General Assembly.

In collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), several workshops involving members of all TBs addressed key harmonization issues like the simplified reporting procedure and the handling of individual communications.

2017: The rights of indigenous women, business and human rights and the relationship between treaty bodies and national human rights institutions

In 2017, the TBMP enabled experts from various treaty bodies (TBs) – the Human Rights Committee (HRC), the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Committee against Torture (CAT), the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families – to discussed a range of issues among themselves as well as with external experts and practitioners.

These included the rights of indigenous women, business and human rights, non-refoulement, individual complaint mechanisms and the relationship between treaty bodies and national human rights institutions.

2016: Sustainable Development Goals, the right to life and enforced disappearances, implementation and remedies, and treaty bodies’ inquiry procedures

In 2016, experts from the HRC, the CESCR, the CEDAW, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, the CRC, the CAT and the CRPD discussed a range of issues among themselves as well as with external experts and practitioners.

These included human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the right to life and enforced disappearances, implementation and remedies, and treaty bodies’ inquiry procedures.

NEWS AND EVENTS

News

Geneva Academy

The Treaty Body Members Platform in 2019

December 2019

The 2019 meetings focused on the rights of the child, corruption, the 2020 review of UN treaty bodies, missing persons, trafficking and prostitution, as well as individual complaints.

The Treaty Body Members Platform in 2018

January 2019

The Treaty Body Members Platform in 2017

December 2017

In 2017, the Platform enabled experts from the various treaty bodies to discuss a range of issues among themselves as well as with external experts and practitioners, including the rights of indigenous women, business and human rights, non-refoulement, individual complaint mechanisms and the relationship between treaty bodies and national human rights institutions.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

News

Geneva Academy

Meet our Researchers: Émilie Max

January 2020

Émilie Max is one of our researchers. She tells us about her background, the research projects she works on and why she decided to work in this field.

News

Olivier Chamard/Geneva Academy

Dr Christophe Golay is Shortlisted for the Position of UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food

February 2020

Our Senior Research Fellow and Strategic Adviser on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Dr Christophe Golay, is a candidate for the position of United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food.

Event

Diplo Foundation

Protecting the Rights of Older Persons During the COVID-19 Pandemic

May 2020, 15:00-16:30

Join us online to discuss the protection of the rights of older persons during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Small irrigation system with polluted water in N’Zerekore, Guinea

Training

Water Alternatives

The Protection of Human Rights and the Environment

23- November 2020

This training course provides participants with a deep understanding of the international legal framework for the protection of human rights and the environment as well as in-depth knowledge of how to promote environmental protection through existing human rights mechanisms. The 2020 edition will have a specific focus on water pollution and scarcity.

Training

CIFOR

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants

7- December 2020

From its adoption to its content and implementation, this training course provides a comprehensive overview of the United Nations Declaration on the rights of peasants, as well as tools to protect and promote the rights of peasants, rural women, fisher, pastoralist and nomadic communities, as well as agricultural workers.

Project

ibmphoto24

Human Rights in the Digital Age

Started in September 2017

This research project examines and appraises the impact of innovation and the development of new information technologies on human rights.

Project

Olivier Chamard / Geneva Academy