UN Enforcement Machinery Flashcards
1
Q
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHCR)
A
- Promotes and protects HRs
- Co-ordinates HR activities throughout the UN
2
Q
UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
A
- Est. 2006
- Promotes and protects HR
- 47 elected seats
- Mostly focused on Israeli-Palestinian conflict but also DPRK, Sri Lanka, etc.
3
Q
UNHRC charter-based mechanisms
A
- originates from the charter of the united nations
- wide HR mandate
- special procedures
- complaints procedure
- universal periodic review
4
Q
UNHRC treaty-based mechanisms
A
- based on specific legal instruments (certain treaties)
- narrower mandates
- 10 treaty monitoring bodies (TMBs)
5
Q
HRC special procedures
A
- either THEMATIC (global) or COUNTRY (national) mandates
- small groups of experts (rapporteurs) who gather research on human rights
- either a specific theme in different countries (gender equality) or human rights as a whole in one country
- e.g. Anand Grover - special rapporteur for health in India
6
Q
HRC - special procedures - special rapporteur example
A
Anand Grover, unpaid, researching health in relations to human rights in India
7
Q
HRC complaints procedure
A
- goal is to address patterns of human rights injustice, usually regarding state law and practice
- can be filed by anyone - trade unions etc
8
Q
HRC universal periodic review
A
- aims to improve human rights in every UN state
- applies to every UN member on a 4.5 year cycle
- review + recommend, implement, assessment
9
Q
HRC treaty monitoring bodies (TMBs)
A
- independent committees of experts that monitor treaties and ensure they are being upheld
- currently 10 committees monitoring treaties
- e.g. “committee against torture” and “committee on migrant workers”
10
Q
what obligation do states have to follow UN treaties?
A
- should take all reasonable steps to comply
- BUT can define what reasonable steps means
- can be challenged by UN
- ultimately can’t enforce it
