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 >The United Nations protection system: interactive presentation |
Monitoring United Nations Bodies International
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Conventional mechanisms Treaty bodies have been set up for the six core United Nations human rights treaties to monitor States parties' efforts to implement the provisions of the international instruments. The Human Rights Committee (HRC) monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Composed of 18 independent experts of recognised competence in the field of human rights, the Committee was established when the Covenant entered into force in 1976. The First Optional Protocol, which entered into force together with the Covenant, authorises the Committee to also consider allegations from individuals concerning violations of their civil and political rights. The Committee is also concerned with the Second Optional Protocol on the Abolition of the Death Penalty. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) monitors the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Composed of 18 internationally recognised independent experts in the relevant fields, the Committee was established by the Economic and Social Council in 1985, nine years after the Covenant entered into force. Unlike the other committees, whose members are elected by the States parties to the respective convention and report to the General Assembly, the members of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are elected by ECOSOC, to which they report. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) monitors the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Composed of 18 experts, the Committee began its work when the Convention entered into force in 1969 and is the oldest treaty body. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), composed of 23 independent experts, has monitored the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women since 1981. The Committee Against Torture (CAT) monitors the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Composed of 10 independent experts, the Committee was established in 1987. The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), composed of 10 independent experts, has monitored the Convention on the Rights of the Child since 1991. In periodic reports to the committees, States parties outline legislative, judicial and administrative measures taken to ensure that government policies and practices conform to the principles contained in the treaty. Three human rights treaties allow for communications from individuals: the Human Rights Committee, the Committee against Torture and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination are authorised to accept individual complaints from citizens of States that have |
