WUNRN
Examples of UNITED NATIONS MECHANISMS &
STRUCTURES AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GENDER/HUMAN RIGHTS/NGO ADVOCACY
*UN Human Rights Council - http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/
*UN Treaty Bodies/Committees - See
information that follows - As UN CEDAW
Committee - Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination of Women
Additional Committees review
Country Reports that have significant gender
components. Watching for the
Committee reviews, and deadlines for submissions
as for SHADOW REPORTS, can be
very important. Specific guidelines are given
for such NGO Reports. They are
considered and can be pivotal in Country reviews.
*UN Commission on the Status of
Women - http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/index.html
*Universal Periodic Review of
Countries - http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRMain.aspx
*UN Special Rapporteurs &
Independent Experts
*National Human Rights Institutions
______________________________________________________________________
UN
- International Human Rights Law
The
international human rights movement was strengthened when the United Nations
General Assembly adopted of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on
10 December 1948. Drafted as ‘a common standard of achievement for all peoples
and nations', the Declaration for the first time in human history spell out
basic civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all human
beings should enjoy. It has over time been widely accepted as the fundamental
norms of human rights that everyone should respect and protect. The UDHR,
together with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its two
Optional Protocols, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights, form the so - called International Bill of Human Rights.
A series of
international human rights treaties and other instruments adopted since 1945
have conferred legal form on inherent human rights and developed the body of
international human rights. Other instruments have been adopted at the regional
level reflecting the particular human rights concerns of the region and
providing for specific mechanisms of protection. Most States have also adopted
constitutions and other laws which formally protect basic human rights. While
international treaties and customary law form the backbone of international
human rights law other instruments, such as declarations, guidelines and
principles adopted at the international level contribute to its understanding,
implementation and development. Respect for human rights requires the
establishment of the rule of law at the national and international levels.
International
human rights law lays down obligations which States are bound to respect. By
becoming parties to international treaties, States assume obligations and
duties under international law to respect, to protect and to fulfil human
rights. The obligation to respect means that States must refrain from
interfering with or curtailing the enjoyment of human rights. The obligation to
protect requires States to protect individuals and groups against human rights
abuses. The obligation to fulfil means that States must take positive action to
facilitate the enjoyment of basic human rights.
Through
ratification of international human rights treaties, Governments undertake to put
into place domestic measures and legislation compatible with their treaty
obligations and duties. Where domestic legal proceedings fail to address human
rights abuses, mechanisms and procedures for individual complaints or
communications are available at the regional and international levels to help
ensure that international human rights standards are indeed respected,
implemented, and enforced at the local level.
______________________________________________________________________
Via IWRAW Asia Pacific
United Nations Upcoming Events
Related to the Work of Treaty Bodies
3 September 2008 - Committee on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities - First election of the members of the
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crpd/crpds1.htm
15 September - 3 October 2008 -
Committee on the Rights of the Child - 49th Session
Countries examined : Bhutan,Djibouti,UK
Countries examined under OP CRC on
prostitution & pornography: Austria, Lithuania, Tanzania, Uganda
Countries examined uner OP CRC on
armed conflict:Tanzania, Uganda and UK
13-31 October 2008 - Human Rights Committee - 94th Session
Countries examined: Nicaragua, Monaco, Denmark, Japan, Spain.
20 October - 7 November 2008 -
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - 42nd session
Countries examined: Bahrain,
Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, Equador, El Slavador,Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar,
Mongolia, Myanmar, Portugal, Slovenia, Uruguay
3 - 21 November 2008 - Committee on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - 41st Session
Countries examined:Angola,
Philippines, Kenya, Kosovo, Sweden, Nicaragua
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/cescrs41.htm
3 - 21 November 2008 - Committee
Against Torture - 41st Session
Countries examined: Belgium,
China(Macao & HK), Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Kenya, Montenegro & Serbia
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/cats41.htm
24-28 November 2008 -
Committee on Migrant Workers 9th Session
Countries examined: El
Salvador
IWRAW Asia Pacific
E-mail: iwraw-ap@iwraw-ap.org
Website: http://www.iwraw-ap.org/
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