The Treaty Body Members Platform in 2018

Participants in a meeting of the UN Treaty Body members Platform Participants in a meeting of the UN Treaty Body members Platform

14 January 2019

Launched in 2014 and now fully integrated in the Geneva Human Rights Platform, the Treaty Body Members Platform (TBMP) connects experts in United Nations (UN) treaty bodies (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.

Around ten meetings are organized every year allowing peer exchanges among UN TBs experts, as well as discussions with other Geneva-based actors on issues of common concern.

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.

The Harmonization of UN TBs

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.

‘These workshops allowed TBs members to share best practices and procedures and to identify avenues for the harmonization of their working methods’ underlines Felix Kirchmeier, Coordinator of the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

Un Treaty Bodies Simplified Reporting Procedure

Exchanges on Fighting Corruption, Addressing Harmful Practices, Prior and Informed Consent and the Right to Life

In 2018, experts from all TBs – the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Committee against Torture, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families – discussed a range of issues among themselves as well as with external experts and practitioners, including staff of the World Health Organization, Geneva-based NGOs or members of other mechanisms, like the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

‘These exchanges notably addressed a human rights-based approach to fight corruption, the right of indigenous peoples to free, prior, and informed consent, how to address ‘harmful practices’ and the right to life as part of the drafting of General Comment No 36 on article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights’ explains Felix Kirchmeier.

Towards the 2020 Review

Several meetings, including specific briefings during the various Committees’ session and a discussion during the Chairpersons’ meeting in New York, also allowed UN TB members to be informed and reflect upon the ongoing discussions towards the 2020 TB Review by the General Assembly.

Presentation New York UN Trearty Bodies

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

HRMI logo News

In Highlight: The Human Rights Measurement Initiative’s Rights Tracker

26 January 2024

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 January highlight of the directory: HRMI’s Rights Tracker.

Read more

Yemeni women live in the open after being displaced from their homes due to the war in Taiz News

New Publication Unpacks UN Human Rights Council's Potential Role in Preventing Climate-Induced Conflicts

29 January 2024

Our new Research Brief explores the potential role of the UN Human Rights Council as an actor in the prevention of climate-related conflicts, alongside other multilateral efforts within the UN system.

Read more

Digital Justice Event

Digital Bridges to Justice: Enhancing Human Rights and SDG Monitoring through Innovative Technologies

3 July 2024, 13:15-14:30

This panel discussion will showcase the transformative potential of digital technologies in monitoring and implementing SDG 16, its interlinkages with other SDGs, and UN human rights recommendations.

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

11-15 November 2024

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

View of a session of the UN Human Rights Committee Training

The International Human Rights Standards and System: Monitoring and Implementation Strategies at the National Level

8-12 July 2024

This training course will delve into the means and mechanisms through which national actors can best coordinate their human rights monitoring and implementation efforts, enabling them to strategically navigate the UN human rights system and use the various mechanisms available in their day-to-day work.

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

Sign: National Human Rights Commission of Nepal Project

Local Implementation of Global Human Rights

Started in May 2020

The Geneva Human Rights Platform collaborates with a series of actors to reflect on the implementation of international human rights norms at the local level and propose solutions to improve uptake of recommendations and decisions taken by Geneva-based human rights bodies at the local level.

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

Between Science-Fact and Science-Fiction Innovation and Ethics in Neurotechnology

published on May 2024

Milena Costas, Timo Istace

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

Unpacking the Climate Migration Extremism Nexus Mapping the Coping Strategies of Kenyan Pastorialists

published on April 2024

Erica Harper, Yosuke Nagai

Read more