A Conference in Oslo to Discuss the Future of United Nations Treaty Bodies

9 November 2018

On 17–18 October 2018, the two coordinators of the Geneva Human Rights Platform, Felix Kirchmeier and Kamelia Kemileva, participated in Oslo in a conference on the role that domestic human rights actors play towards the 2020 review of United Nations (UN) treaty bodies (TBs) by the UN General Assembly and how to build a more effective TB system for all stakeholders.

Co-organized by the Geneva Academy and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights of the University of Oslo, the conference brought together ministerial representatives, independent state institutions (National Human Rights Institutions and Ombudspersons), acting and former TBs members, and representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human (OHCHR) and civil society organizations.

Dissemination of the Academic Platform on Treaty Body Review 2020’s Conclusions

The expert part of the conference focused on testing the proposals entailed in our publication ‘Optimizing the UN Treaty Bodies System’ against the backdrop of participants’ experience in working with TBs from a domestic point of view.

The public part of the conference, moderated by Orest Nowosad, Chief of Section at OHCHR and Felix Kirchmeier, discussed in the importance and impact of TBs at the national level.

‘This meeting forms part of the ongoing dissemination of the conclusions of the Academic Platform on Treaty Body Review 2020, a three-year consultative process which aimed at providing academic inputs into the 2020 Review by the General Assembly’ underlines Felix Kirchmeier.

‘Participants reacted very positively to the proposals entailed in our report’ underlines Kamelia Kemileva. ‘As the recommendations imply a long reporting cycle, they suggested, a more structured and robust follow-up, which would ensure the necessary engagement of national stakeholders with the TB system’ she adds.

About the Geneva Human Rights Platform

The Academic Platform on Treaty Body Review 2020 forms part of the Geneva Human Rights Platform (HRP).

The HRP provides a neutral and dynamic forum of interaction in Geneva for all stakeholders in the field of human rights – experts, practitioners, diplomats and civil society – to discuss and debate topical issues and challenges. Relying on academic research and findings, it works to enable various actors to be better connected, break silos, and, hence, advance human rights.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

neurodata graphics News

New Research Brief Evaluates the Effectiveness of GDPR in Mitigating Risks Associated with the Distinctive Nature of Neurodata

21 January 2025

Our recent research brief, Neurodata: Navigating GDPR and AI Act Compliance in the Context of Neurotechnology, examines how effectively GDPR addresses the unique risks posed by neurodata.

Read more

neurotech image News

Human Rights Concerns in Neurotechnology Examined in New Research Brief

15 April 2025

Our research brief 'Neurotechnology - Integrating Human Rights in Regulation' examines the human rights challenges posed by the rapid development of neurotechnology.

Read more

AI for Good Event Event

AI for human rights: Smarter, faster, fairer monitoring

8 July 2025, 14:00-16:00

The event, as part of the AI for Good Summit 2025 will explore how AI tools can support faster data analysis, help uncover patterns in large datasets, and expand the reach of human rights work.

Read more

Town Hall Meeting Training

Localizing International Human Rights

8-10 October 2025

This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.

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

10-14 November 2025

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

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

Project

Follow-up Review Pilot Series

Started in November 2021

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

Briefing N° 25: Localizing Multilateralism

published on March 2025

Domenico Zipoli, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Kamelia Kemileva

Read more