The GHRP Fridays provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to discuss the results of the United Nations (UN) Treaty Body (TB) 2020 Review and practical ways to implement change.
Initially started as monthly briefings for Geneva-based diplomats to share academic findings, topical updates and political developments of the 2020 TB Review, the GHRP Fridays are open to all interested delegations, TB members, staff from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and civil society.
The individual events are based on specific recommendations contained in the Swiss-Moroccan co-facilitator report of the 2020 review process, presented to the General Assembly, as well as the report of the 33rd TB Chairperson meeting of 2021.
From November 2021 to February 2022, on Fridays from (14:30–16:30), the following discussions will allow members of UN treaty bodies (TBs), experts, diplomats and civil society to address crucial issues related to the work of TBS. These are based on specific recommendations contained in the Swiss-Moroccan co-facilitator report of the 2020 review process, presented to the General Assembly, as well as the report of the 33rd TB Chairperson meeting of 2021.
Harmonized COVID Working Methods, Friday 12 November 2021
This GHRP Friday will allow TB members to report back on their experiences and to discuss lessons for a post-COVID setting. They will notably address the following questions what elements of online work could be taken over into regular TB work; what was the experience of states engaging with TBs during the online sessions?; what were the most prominent constraints?.
Predictable Review Schedule, Friday 26 November 2021
The current irregular and incoherent schedule of reviews across the system constitutes a major issue for the visibility of the TB system, the coherence of its outputs, and the encouragement for timely and full cooperation. Suggestions for a master calendar have been made and turned down for various reasons while the problem only aggravated. A new push for a comprehensive fixed calendar by TBs brings new dynamics into the discussion. This GHRP Friday will discuss calendars in place and possibilities to synchronize reporting schedules of all TBs, moving thus towards a 100 percent reporting compliance rate and meaningful possibilities for follow-up and mutual reinforcement.
Nominations, Elections and Membership, Friday 3 December 2021
Transparency is considered a key element in the nomination and election process of TB members. Many states have started inclusive processes of national nominations, NGOs lead a transparency initiative involving all candidates and there are also parallels to be drawn from nomination processes in place for other international judicial or quasi-judicial bodies. This GHRP Friday will focus on good practices and potential modalities to be introduced globally in the nomination and election process for new TB members. It will notably discuss our Working Paper Promoting Quality, Independent and Diverse Treaty Body Membership.
Digital Shift / Digital Uplift, Friday 21 January 2022
Working methods inside the TB system/secretariat are not up to speed with contemporary standards and potentials IT or AI-based solutions can offer. Efforts are underway in specific areas of work, and an office-wide discussion on a digital uplift is taking place. This GHRP Friday will provide an opportunity to the OHCHR task force on digitalization to share progress and plans.
Focused Review: Models, Modalities, Concepts and Simulations, 2022
The idea of focused reviews, to take place in between full reviews, has been welcomed by all stakeholders. They are thought to replace full reviews, focusing on implementation and follow-up of recommendations. Models differ from in-country sessions, reviews in regional hubs or online. This GHRP Friday will allow for an exchange of the various ideas, their differences and implications and for a presentation of the simulation exercises initiated by the GHRP.
Case Management Portal for Individual Communications, 2022
Update on progress about this case management support.
Digital Tools for National-Level Reporting and Follow-Up, 2022
Will discuss the available digital tools for national-level reporting and follow-up.
Co-Sponsors
This event series – co-organized with the Permanent Missions of Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Morocco, Switzerland and Uruguay to the UN in Geneva – aims at discussing the outcomes of the 2020 UN Treaty Body Review.
Modalities for Participation
This event series will be held in the form of hybrid meetings, with participation in presence at Villa Moynier in Geneva and online on the platform Zoom. Meetings will be open to the diplomatic community, TB members, staff from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and civil society.
