The international community has at its disposal a comprehensive institutional machinery to respond to human rights concerns around the world. At its centre are the UN Human Rights Council, the Special Procedure system, the Treaty Body system, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Over the years, the Treaty Bodies have undergone an intergovernmental review process to strengthen and enhance their effective functioning.
This programme analyses the outcome of the intergovernmental process, offers thoughts on its implications for States, Treaty Body members, OHCHR, and civil society, and addresses the question of what comes next for the Treaty Bodies. It considers the experience of the Treaty Bodies over the years and reflects on how to bring their work closer to the people on the ground.
