Experts Discuss the Role of United Nations Human Rights Mechanisms in Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals

25 June 2018

During an expert seminar that took place at the Geneva Academy at the beginning of June, UN Special Procedures, members of UN treaty bodies (TBs), staff from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), as well as representatives from civil society, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the Swiss Government discussed the role that United Nations (UN) human rights (HR) mechanisms have played and can play in monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that seek to realize economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR).

Participants also discussed how they could collaborate with the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York and the links they could develop with the March 2017 initiative on human rights and the 2030 Agenda at the Human Rights Council (HRC).

‘These exchanges allow participants to learn what UN HR mechanisms have done and are doing in linking ESCR and the SDGs and to discuss how they can better include the SDGs in their work’ underlines Dr Christophe Golay, Senior Research Fellow and Strategic Adviser on ESCR at the Geneva Academy.

Implementing the Recommendations Entailed in Our Publications on ESCR and the SDGs

The seminar also provided an opportunity to discuss the recommendations entailed in our publication No One Will Be Left Behind and in our Research Brief on ESCR and SDGs.

Both publications present the links between human rights and development, lessons learned from the MDGs period, and commitments made in relation to the SDGs and ESCR in the 2030 Agenda. They also draw attention to the need to fully integrate HR into the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs and provide a set of concrete recommendations for states, UN HR mechanisms, OHCHR and the HLPF as to how this might be done.

‘A number of UN Special Rapporteurs received a new mandate from the HRC to include the SDGs in their work, notably in their annual thematic reports and country visits. Mandate holders who participated in this expert seminar welcomed the possibility to use ideas presented in our publications to do so’ stresses Christophe Golay.

Expert Seminar on Economic Social and Cultural Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs

 A Larger Research Project on ESCR and the SDGs

This expert seminar, along with the two publications on ESCR and the SDGs form part of a larger research project on development and ESCR. This project aims to raise awareness about the complementarity of HR and development by analyzing the relationship between ESCR and global development goals, focusing on the role that UN HR mechanisms can play in monitoring the SDGs that seek to realize ESCR.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

GTI Logo News

In Highlight: Global Torture Index

26 June 2025

Via its DHRTTDs Directory, the Geneva Human Rights Platform provides a comprehensive list and description of such key tools and databases. But how to navigate them? Which tool should be used for what, and by whom? This interview helps us understand better the specificities of the current highlight of the directory: Global Torture Index

Read more

EQINET Logo News

In Highlight: Equality Bodies Comparison Dashboard

20 August 2025

Via its DHRTTDs Directory, the Geneva Human Rights Platform provides a comprehensive list and description of such key tools and databases. But how to navigate them? Which tool should be used for what, and by whom? This interview helps us understand better the specificities of the current highlight of the directory: Equality Bodies Comparison Dashboard

Read more

Palais de Nations Ceiling Event

Local and Regional Governments in the UPR: Localizing Human Rights

5 November 2025, 13:30-15:00

This side event will examine how LRGs can be better recognized and empowered as key human rights actors, building on recent Human Rights Council resolutions.

Read more

A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System: Raising the Bar on Accountability

10-14 November 2025

This training course will explore the origin and evolution of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its functioning in Geneva and will focus on the nature of implementation of the UPR recommendations at the national level.

Read more

Plastic pollution on an Italian shore Project

Unpacking the Human Right to a Healthy Environment: Definition, Implementation and Impact

Started in January 2022

This research aims at mainstreaming the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and the protection it affords in the work of the UN Human Rights Council, its Special Procedures and Universal Periodic Review, as well as in the work of the UN General Assembly and UN treaty bodies.

Read more

Panel Discussion: Project

Treaty Body Members’ Platform

Started in January 2014

The Treaty Body Members’ Platform connects experts in UN treaty bodies with each other as well as with Geneva-based practitioners, academics and diplomats to share expertise, exchange views on topical questions and develop synergies.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

Briefing N° 25: Localizing Multilateralism

published on March 2025

Domenico Zipoli, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Kamelia Kemileva

Read more