SEO Meeting 2012 International human rights system

Content

• Evolution • Key and new opportunities • APF engagement • Discussion

Human Rights Council Human rights treaty bodies General Assembly

Watershed moments

VDPA Paris Principles ICC accreditation

NHRI participation timeline

2005

CHR 2005/74

2007

HRC 5/1

2011

HRC review

2011

HRC 17/9

2011

GA 66/169

2012

HRC res .

Human Rights Council

Participation opportunities

Regular and special sessions of the Council

• Allocated seating • Submission of written statements and reports • Oral statements under all 10 Council agenda items • Hosting of parallel events

Council mechanisms

• • • • • • • Advisory Committee (expert advice) Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Forum on Minority Issues Social Forum Complaint Procedure

(consistent patterns of gross and reliably attested violations)

Special Procedures

(country/thematic)

Universal Periodic Review

Special Procedures

• • • • • • Contribution to Special Procedures reports Assisting mandate-holders during country missions Transmitting communications Nominating candidates for appointment ‘A’ status NHRIs may speak immediately after State during SP presentation after country visit ‘A’ status NHRIs may address the Council via video statement during a report on a SP country mission to their country.

Universal Periodic Review

• Submission of information (section of stakeholder report allocated to ‘A’ status NHRIs) • Attendance of UPR working group • Ability to speak immediately after State during the adoption of the report in plenary

Participation statistics (OHCHR, 2009)

Treaty bodies

Treaty bodies

CCPR CESCR CERD CEDAW CAT SPT CRC CMW CRPD CPED

Contribution opportunities

• Four TBs have developed formal guidelines on their working relationship with NHRIs (CEDAW, CERD, CRC,

CCPR)

• Submitting alternative/shadow reports • Contributing information toward treaty body communication procedures (inquiries, individual

complaints and early warning/urgent action procedures)

• Contributing to the development of lists of issues and general comments • Attending treaty body sessions and annual Inter Committee Meetings (2006)

Contribution opportunities

• Contribution to the development of treaties: CPRD,

OP-ICESCR, OP-CRC establishing a communications procedure

• Appointment as National Preventive Mechanisms under OPCAT and national implementation mechanisms under the CRPD • Treaty body strengthening process: Dublin meeting

(November 2009), Marrakesh Statement (June 2010)

Participation statistics (OHCHR, 2009)

General Assembly

Contribution opportunities

• Commission on the Status of Women • Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities • Open-ended Working Group on Ageing • Current treaty body strengthening process

APF engagement

Goal: To mainstream NHRI participation opportunities across

the UN’s human rights-related work.

• 2012 Human Rights Council resolution • General Assembly’s treaty body strengthening process • Engagement with other General Assembly Commissions

Discussion

• Best practice examples • Have your experiences interacting with UN human rights mechanisms been positive or negative? • Are too many demands placed on NHRIs by these mechanisms and UN offices? • Have you prioritised some mechanisms? If so, which ones?

• How do you incorporate contributions to the international system into strategic and budgetary planning?

• How do we bridge the expectation/capacity divide when it comes to NHRI contribution opportunities at the UN?