Towards a stronger and more inclusive Treaty Body System
In 2014 the General Assembly adopted Res. 68/268 on Strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system and set up a review of its progress, which will culminate in 2020. In light of this six-year reform agenda, the seminar will address the role which domestic human rights actors play towards the Treaty Body Review 2020 benchmark. A representation of current Treaty Body Members and officials from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, together with representatives of NHRIs, Ombudspersons and civil society will share their views on possible steps ahead towards a stronger and more inclusive Treaty Body System.
Welcome
Gentian Zyberi, Head of Department, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights and Member elect of the UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR, 2019-2022)
Opening Addresses:
Chair: Nora Sveaass, Professor, UiO Department of Psychology and SPT Member
- Knut Morten Johansen, State Secretary for the Minister of Justice, Public Security and Immigration
- Per Morten Sandset, Vice-Rector, University of Oslo, UiO
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Kirsten Sandberg, Professor, UiO Department of Public and International law and CRC Member
- Ibrahim Salama, Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch, OHCHR
- Petter Wille, Special Adviser, Norwegian National Human Rights Institution
The seminar will be divided into two segments
The first panel will address ways in which NMRFs, NHRIs and Ombudspersons can improve interaction with the preparation, monitoring and follow-up of Treaty Body recommendations. Special attention will be given to viable options for strengthening and/or streamlining synergies between existing Treaty Body procedures, coordinating institutional structures within the State apparatus and amongst independent State institutions.
The second panel will focus on ways in which civil society organizations can improve interaction with the preparation, monitoring and follow-up of Treaty Body recommendations. Special attention will be given to viable options for strengthening and/or streamlining synergies between existing Treaty Body procedures and civil society organizations.
A full list of participants will be made available shortly.
See the programme
This public event marks the ending of a two-day expert seminar with invited stakeholders - you can read more about it below.
Expert Seminar on Domestic Stakeholders and the Treaty Body Review 2020
The Academic Platform on Treaty Body Review 2020, a world-wide consultative process coordinated by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, has recently published its final report (“Optimizing the UN Treaty Body System”, May 2018). Drawing on the recommendations from the Academic Platform, the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights is inviting experts from academia, civil society, state and non-state human rights institutions, TB Members, OHCHR representatives and persons with experience working towards the implementation of Treaty Body recommendations to participate in an expert seminar at the University of Oslo. Taking place over two days (17 – 18 October 2018), the seminar will serve the purpose of testing the Report’s reform proposals against the backdrop of the participants’ experience in working with the Treaty Body system from a domestic point of view, and expand the discussion of the Treaty Body reform process to include the role of civil society and other domestic actors engagement with Treaty Bodies, and the impact that their composition and functioning may have on the scope for civil and local/national engagement.
Conveners: Bård Anders Andreassen and Domenico Zipoli (Norwegian Centre for Human Rights) and Felix Kirchmeier and Kamelia Kemileva (Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights)
We specifically invite civil society organizations with experience in Human Rights Treaty Body parallel reporting to contact the organizers, as their input to the two-day expert seminar would be welcome.
Please contact Domenico Zipoli if you have requests about the expert seminar.