The GHRP Reiterates the Importance of Conducting Focused Reviews in Regions

14 June 2021

At the 7 June, 2021 online meeting of the Chairpersons of the United Nations (UN) human rights treaty bodies (TBs), the Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform Felix Kirchmeier reiterated the importance of conducting dialogues with state parties concerning their reports at the national or regional level.

Enhancing TBs Visibility at National Level

Introducing reviews in the region constitute an important step towards increased domestic stakeholder accessibility to UN TBs and closer interaction with national and regional human rights actors.

‘The possibility that TBs can act outside Geneva also presents an opportunity to give them greater visibility and to foster a stronger sense of universal ownership over time, and, as such, to strengthen the system and to contribute towards its long-term sustainability and impact’ underlines Felix Kirchmeier.

‘In this respect, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s extraordinary meeting in the Pacific island state of Samoa back in March 2020 has shown the many benefits of engaging on regional level’ he adds.

Universalizing States’ Engagement with the UN TB System

This move towards the national level would also allow for a lighter focused review between two full reviews, stretching the reporting cycle and facilitating states’ engagement with the TBs.

‘This is a real chance to bring us closer to full reporting compliance and universal engagement with the TBs’ says Domenico Zipoli, Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy.

A key Outcome of the 2020 Review

This recommendation is a key outcome of the 2020 review (A/75/601) and has been supported by the GHRP since 2018. It is also in line with the call by 45 states – as voiced in their letter to the TB Chairpersons on the occasion of this meeting – to replace every second review with a focused review.

‘We are ready to support Un TBs in this endeavour by piloting this focused review at country-level with interested states and TB members ’ explains Felix Kirchmeier.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

APF Library Logo News

In Highlight: APF Library

14 October 2024

Via its DHRTTDs Directory, the Geneva Human Rights Platform provides a comprehensive list and description of such key tools and databases. But how to navigate them? Which tool should be used for what, and by whom? This interview helps us understand better the specificities of the current highlight of the directory: APF Library

Read more

GHRP Annual Conference 2024 News

GHRP Annual Conference 2024 Strengthens Connectivity in a Pressured Human Rights System

25 November 2024

The 2024 Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP), held on 5 November at Maison de la Paix, focused on the theme Human Rights System Under Pressure: A Reason to Expand Connectivity.

Read more

Event

Launch of the Commentary to the Maastricht Principles on the Human Rights of Future Generations

20 March 2025, 18:30-20:00

This event presents the a public discussion of the Maastricht Principles’ legal commentary, exploring their impact on intergenerational justice and policymaking.

Read more

Faces and Data Event

Academic Freedom under Siege

24 March 2025, 13:00-15:00

This Human Rights Conversation will highlight the significance of academic freedom, explore its legal foundations, and examine the concrete threats it faces.

Read more

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Booklet Training

The International Human Rights Standards and System: Monitoring and Implementation Strategies at the National Level

7-11 July 2025

This training course will delve into the means and mechanisms through which national actors can best coordinate their human rights monitoring and implementation efforts, enabling them to strategically navigate the UN human rights system and use the various mechanisms available in their day-to-day work.

Read more

Open dump Training

Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

15-19 September 2025

Participants in this training course will gain practical insights into UN human rights mechanisms and their role in environmental protection and learn about how to address the interplay between international human rights and environmental law, and explore environmental litigation paths.

Read more

Session of the UN Human Rights Committee Project

Treaty Body Review 2020 and Beyond

Started in January 2018

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributes to this review process by providing expert input via different avenues, by facilitating dialogue on the review among various stakeholders, as well as by accompanying the development of a follow-up resolution to 68/268 in New York and in Geneva.

Read more

George Floyd protest in Washington D.C. Project

Promoting and Protecting the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association and Civic Space Worldwide

Started in June 2020

This project aims at providing support to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Clément Voulé by addressing emerging issues affecting civic space and eveloping tools and materials allowing various stakeholders to promote and defend civic space.

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