Human Rights in the context of the UN Reform

andThe HR Protection Systems

Session 1

Session objectives

• To provide information about the key milestones and influence of the human rights agenda in UN reform

• To explain the relevance of human rights protection systems and the value they bring to country analysis and the UNDAF

• To introduce the distinction between human rights and human rights-based approach

...To achieve international cooperation…in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms…

--UN Charter, art. 1

Human rights in the UN

Milestones of HR Mainstreaming in UN

1997-ongoingUN Reform

2000Millennium Declaration

2002Action 2UN Reform

2005“In Larger Freedom”

2005 2010 World Summit MDGs Review Outcome Summit

Human development

• Process of enhancing people’s capabilities

• Expand choices and opportunities

• Lead a life of respect and value

… and Human rights

• Claims to be protected from abuses and deprivations

• Secure the freedom for a life and dignity

• Requires capacity that development makes possible

The linkage between …

Three concepts:

1. Rights

2. Human rights

3. Global, Regional and National Protection systems

“That which a person is entitled to have, to do, or to receive from others, and which is enforceable by law.”

What is a right?

• Universal legal guarantees• Civil, cultural, economic, political and social• Protect human values (freedom, equality, dignity)• Inherent to individuals and, to some extent,

groups• Grounded in international norms and standards• Legally binding on States

What are human rights?

“Protection systems”

“Legal frameworks, institutions, procedures and actors to ensure that international human rights norms and standards are promoted, respected, protected and fulfilled”

UN CharterUDHR

ICCPR ICESCR

CERD CEDAW

CATCRC

NationalConstitutions

and Laws

CMWOther International Instruments

(humanitarian, specialized agencies)

Regionalinstruments

CRPD

Human rights instruments

CPED

Fundamental Labour Conventions

OPs

• Promotes universal protection

• Addresses and prevents violations

• Develops international law• Reviews compliance of

Member States• Respond to emergencies• International forum for

dialogue

Universal Periodic Review

Special Procedures

Advisory Committee

Complaint Procedures

Human Rights Council (Charter-based bodies)

Universal Periodic Review

• Review the fulfillment of the human rights obligations of all countries

• All Member States will be reviewed within 4 years (48 States per year)

• Review will be carried out by “peers” (groups of three Member States)

Treaty bodies

Treaty bodies monitor and facilitate the implementation of the treaties through:Reviewing State Party reports and additional sources of informationAdopting observations and recommendationsAdopting General Comments on HR Standards contained in the treaty Examining individual complaints (some of them)Making confidential inquiries (some of them)

Special procedures

Country mandates (8)• Burundi• Cambodia• DPRK• Haiti• Myanmar• Palestinian territories• Somalia• Sudan

Thematic mandates (33)►Adequate housing African decent ►►Arbitrary detention Sale of Children ►

Cultural rights Discrimination against ► ►women in law and practice Education ►

Enforced Disappearances Extrajudicial ► ►executions Extreme poverty Food ► ►

Foreign debt Freedom of peaceful ► ►assembly & association Freedom of opinion ►& expression Freedom of religion Health ► ►

Human rights defenders Independence of ► ►judges and lawyers Indigenous people ►

Internally displaced persons Mercenaries ► ►Migrants Minority issues Racism ► ► ►Slavery International solidarity Terrorism ► ► ►Torture Toxic waste Trafficking in persons ► ► ►Transnational corporations and business ►Water and sanitation Violence against ► ►

women

Recommendations

StateCivil Society

State reportsCivil society/NHRIs reports

Supports reportingProcess

Programmessupport State

implementation

Provides its Own input

UNCT

Awareness raising

Regional human rights systems

Instruments

• European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

• American Convention on Human Rights and San Jose Pact on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• African Charter on Human and People’s Rights

• Arab Charter on Human Rights

Mechanisms

• European Court on Human Rights• Inter-American Commission on

Human Rights• Inter-American Court on Human

Rights• African Commission on Human

and People’s Rights• African Court on Human and

People’s Rights• Arab Committee of HR Experts• ASEAN intergovernmental

Commission on HR (AICHR)

National protection system

Ensuring sustainable respect for human rights requires:• Constitutional and legal framework• Effective institutions (parliament, government, judiciary,

public administration, human rights institutions)• Procedures and processes including effective remedies• Policies and programmes, including awareness raising• Vibrant civil society and free media

National

Regional

Int’l

Global & regional protection are complementary

Global & regional norms require national implementation

National norms should be consistent with global and regional standards

Links between national, regional and international protection systems

…Status of ratification

…Whether a Country’s pledge to the HRC exists

…Recent Treaty Body concluding observations

…Recent State reports to Treaty Bodies

…Recent visits of Special Rapporteurs or statements and communications on the country

…Calendar of upcoming events and SP country visits

…Recent outputs of monitoring mechanisms of specialized agency instruments (e.g. ILO supervisory bodies)

Check on….

www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/Pages/HumanRightsintheWorld.aspxwww.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/Pages/HumanRightsintheWorld.aspx