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UN Terms

By EMHRN 15/07/2009 04:09:00

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UN Terms

UN Treaty Bodies

Implementation of a human rights treaty is overseen by a committee of experts known as the treaty monitoring body or treaty body. The treaty bodies consist of independent, impartial members who are elected by those governments that are states parties to the treaty.

Currently, there are seven treaty bodies: the Committee against Torture (CAT), the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW) and the Human Rights Committee (HRC).

Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006. It will replace the Commission on Human Rights, which will be formally abolished on 16 June 2006.
The Human Rights Council, to be composed of 47 Member States, will be based in Geneva and will hold no fewer than three sessions per year (including a main session) for a total period of no less than ten weeks. The Council will also be able to hold special sessions when necessary through a request by a Member of the Council with the support of one-third of the membership of the Council.

Commission on Human Rights

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights was established in 1946 to weave the international legal fabric that protects our fundamental rights and freedoms. Composed of 53 States members, its brief expanded over time to allow it to respond to the whole range of human rights problems and it set standards to govern the conduct of States. It also acted as a forum where countries large and small, non-governmental groups and human rights defenders from around the world voiced their concerns.

Human Rights Committee

Monitoring civil and political rights

The Human Rights Committee is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by its State parties.

All States parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented. States must report initially one year after acceding to the Covenant and then whenever the Committee requests (usually every four years). The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of "concluding observations”.

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Monitoring the economic, social and cultural rights
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by its States parties. The Committee was established under ECOSOC Resolution 1985/17 of 28 May 1985 to carry out the monitoring functions assigned to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in Part IV of the Covenant.

Committee on the Rights of the Child

Monitoring children's rights
The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by its State parties. It also monitors implementation of two optional protocols to the Convention, on involvement of children in armed conflict and on sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

Monitoring Women's Rights
The Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women monitors the adherence of countries that are party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and to its Optional Protocol and responds to complaints raised by individuals and groups.
According to CEDAW, signatory states should submit reports to the Committee stating the different measures taken by them to ensure the enforcement of this convention and describing the progress attained in this regard within one year of the date that the convention came into effect in the respective country.

Committee against Torture

Monitoring the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
United Nations efforts that aimed at putting an end to torture culminated on December 10, 1984, in the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Convention on the Eliminating of All Forms of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). The Convention did not stop at writing down a set of legal principles and rules; rather, it provided for the establishment of a supervisory authority or body, namely the Committee Against Torture, and entrusted it with monitoring states' respect of and adherence to the agreement. The Committee held its first session in Geneva in April 1988.

Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers

Monitoring the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families
The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families was established in accordance to article 72 of the Convention. It consists of a body of ten independent experts who serve in their personal capacity and are elected by a secret ballot by the State Parties. Fair representation of various geographical areas is taken into consideration, as well as the representation of different legal systems. The members of the Committee serve for a term of four years; however the terms of five of the members elected in the first session expire at the end of the two years.

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Monitoring racial equality and non-discrimination

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by its State parties.

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