Coordination with regional mechanisms
Global and regional human rights bodies have developed in parallel rather than in unison, leading to fears of fragmentation, duplication or even contradiction.
Disaster-induced cross-border displacement
Every year millions of people are displaced by natural disasters. With the effects of climate change, this number will only grow further and will increasingly include cross-border movements. Yet, the current international protection framework is insufficient.
Environmental human rights defenders
Environmental Human Rights Defenders are a group of growing importance and a group at particular risk. Yet little is understood about them, about the particular challenges they face, or about how the international community might best support them.
Coordination with regional mechanisms
Global and regional human rights bodies have developed in parallel rather than in unison, leading to fears of fragmentation, duplication or even contradiction.
The catalytic Council
External perceptions of the Human Rights Council have become linked with the body’s evolving role in responding to human rights emergencies – in its own right and also as a ‘catalyst’ for broader UN engagement.
A ‘rights-based’ approach
A wide-range of international organisations are exploring or adopting rights-based approaches to aspects of their work (e.g. WHO, Global Fund, UNHCR, UNFCCC, UN Women).
UPR, Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Treaty Body reporting and Special Procedure systems are designed to be mutually reinforcing. Is this proving to be the case in practice?
Council resolutions
Since the Human Rights Council was established there has been a huge increase in the number of resolutions adopted by the body, representing a significant drain on resources. But how useful are they?
Human rights financing
In a 2011 speech to the General Assembly, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, described the (less than) 3% of the total UN budget allocated to OHCHR as “scandalous”. The strengthened performance of the Human Rights Council over recent years, building on its status as one of the 3 pillars of the UN system, presents an opportunity to revisit the issue of UN funds allocated to human rights.
Communicating with the human rights system
The system of communicating with human rights mechanisms has evolved steadily over many decades. Today, there are questions as to its accessibility and effectiveness.
Special Procedures
UN Special Procedures, often seen as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the human rights system, face significant challenges in terms of sustainability and future effectiveness.
Leveraging new technology for human rights protection
Modern information technology, the internet and social media can help bring the international human rights system closer to the people it is obligated to protect.
Post-2015 Development Agenda
It is vital that the post-2015 development framework recognises the link between human rights and development, and leverages human rights norms and principles to strengthen sustainable socio-economic progress.
