The 2020 United Nations human rights treaty body review process: prioritising resources, independence and the domestic state reporting process over rationalising and streamlining treaty bodies

Abstract

This article reflects concerns about what may emerge from the United Nations human rights treaty body (TB) review process that began in April 2020. The fear specifically is what the outcome of that review may be and whether the goal of strengthening and/ or streamlining TBs will actually result in a less robust state oversight and human rights compliance methodology in the future. Already TBs have been weakened by being granted fewer resources, which causes strains on the system, and by steps to make the procedures easier, less cumbersome, less duplicative, less time-consuming, and less resource-intensive for states. This article maintains, however, that more emphasis ought in fact to be placed on enhancing the resources available to these institutions, and on strengthening their roles in a variety of ways, including by increasing their independence as a means to improve their performance. It claims that if streamlining TBs means reducing what impact these bodies can have, this ought to be avoided. The article also stresses that if the domestic component of the state reporting process is enhanced, and the national follow-up procedures and processes further developed, the TB process will see improvements, both in its functioning and in its role in promoting and protecting human rights in states. It is thus reasoned that the global push to create and promote national reporting mechanisms ought to be supported.

COVID-19 and seafarers’ rights to shore leave, repatriation and medical assistance: a pilot study

“…This study is conducted in the backdrop of the concern about the underway United Nations human rights treaty body review process that commenced in April 2020 over the fact that the outcome of the review process may result in less robust state oversight and human rights compliance in the future [48].…”

Corporate Law in the Era of Globalization: A Review of Ethical Implications and Global Impacts

“…International organizations, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN), play a central role in fostering collaborations to establish standardized legal norms. Treaties and agreements provide a framework for harmonizing regulations related to trade, environmental protection, and human rights (Sarkin, 2021). Collaborative initiatives among nations aim to converge regulatory standards, especially in areas where global consistency is crucial (Abbott and Snidal, 2021).…”

Health and social consequences of human rights violations in Rural Nigeria

“…Insurgency is an armed rebellion by any irregular armed force that rises against an established authority, such as government, administration, or occupation (Anon, 2020; Ssenyonja, 2018). The rise in insurgency amongst Nigeria persists “because of the perceived unjust violations of their rights” (Sarkin, 2020:26). That is, those who are supposed to enjoy relative freedom/rights as contained in the constitution rise against their perceived sources of distress and they devise unconventional “means of seeking redress” (Anon, 2020:2).…”

“…The fear of losing their lives as a result of the crisis and rampant violations of human rights withheld such technology transfer. This has been a major cause of underdevelopment in Nigeria (Anon, 2020b; Ofoegbu, 2013; Sarkin, 2020).…”