Human Rights Enforcement Mechanisms of the

United Nations

Task: Create a Pecha Kucha in which you summarize your group information. All
members need to talk distribute the work by assigning clear roles

INTRO: GROUP 1 (Include important organizations in the presentation,particularly

committees )

Since the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, several United Nations
mechanisms for enforcing and protecting economic, social, and cultural rights have emerged. One of
the most important international mechanisms for defending and promoting ESCR is the Committee
on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) whose mandate is to specifically monitor state
parties fulfillment of their obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights. Articles 16 and 17 of the ICESCR require states to prepare reports every five years
on the situation of ESCR in their country, which are reviewed by the CESCR. The CESCR examines
the extent to which ESCR are being achieved by state parties, serves as a base for formulating
policies that promote ESCR via General Comments , and allows the public to learn about the work of
their government concerning the achievement of ESCR. The CESCR overviews five or six reports
every year. If a country fails to report, the CESCR may review the situation in that country using
alternative sources. After examining a country's report and other sources, the CESCR then releases
concluding observations which highlight the progress made in fulfilling ESCR, difficulties in achieving
these rights, areas of concern, and recommendations. CESCR also accepts reports by members of
the civil society on the situation of ESCR in their countries as part of the review process. The CESCR
is an organ of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It has 18 members
who are experts in the area of human rights and are elected by the ECOSOC.Beside the CESCR,
other important mechanisms for human rights within the UN are the Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR), the Human Rights Council,, and
treaty-monitoring bodies like The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
and The Committee on the Rights of the Child.

GROUP 2: Include headings of the document in the presentation and explain their
function
High Commissioner on Human Rights

The role of the OHCHR is to protect and promote human rights. It is the main office in the United
Nations that deals with human rights and it works to ensure that human rights standards are applied
in all of the UN's activities. It collaborates with governments to strengthen their human rights
capabilities, encourages states to develop policies and institutions that are conducive to human rights,
and provides advice and technical assistance to achieve these goals.

The Human Rights Council, Special Procedures and Working Groups

Recent reforms at the UN have altered the structure of its human rights enforcement bodies. The
Human Rights Council replaces the Commission on Human Rights as the main UN body charged with
monitoring and evaluating conditions of human rights in countries around the world and identifying
major areas of concern. This includes a system of special procedures, expert advice, and a complaint
procedure. Composed of 47 Member States elected by the UN General Assembly, the Council serves
as a round-table for governments and civil society groups to raise concerns about human rights
abuses in particular countries, as well as thematic areas of concern. The Council meets at least three
times a year and also functions through a series of working groups and special procedures. These
include the Open-ended working group to consider options regarding the elaboration of an
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
which would include an individual complaint mechanism. Special procedures with thematic mandates
include Special Rapporteurs on Adequate Housing, the Right to Education, the Question of Human
Rights and Extreme Poverty, the Right to Food and the Right to Health, who are able to receive
information on specific allegations of human rights violation and send urgent appeals or letters of
allegation to governments asking for clarification, as well as reporting on visits and investigations.
The Human Rights Council is currently undertaking a review that may ultimately reshape and
rationalize mandates and mechanisms of the former Human Rights Commission.

GROUP 3: Include the names of the committees mechanisms and their functions
United Nations Human Rights Treaty Mechanisms

One of the most important international mechanisms for defending and promoting ESCR is the
Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) whose mandate is to specifically
monitor state parties fulfillment of their obligations under the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights. Articles 16 and 17 of the ICESCR require states to prepare reports every
five years on the situation of ESCR in their country, which are reviewed by the CESCR. The CESCR
examines the extent to which ESCR are being achieved by state parties, serves as a base for
formulating policies that promote ESCR via General Comments, and allows the public to learn
about the work of their government concerning the achievement of ESCR. The CESCR
overviews five or six reports every year. If a country fails to report, the CESCR may review the
situation in that country using alternative sources. After examining a country's report and
other sources, the CESCR then releases concluding observations which highlight the
progress made in fulfilling ESCR, difficulties in achieving these rights, areas of concern, and
recommendations. CESCR also accepts reports by members of the civil society on the situation of
ESCR in their countries as part of the review process. The CESCR is an organ of the United Nations
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It has 18 members who are experts in the area of
human rights and are elected by the ECOSOC.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women monitors the progress of
women's rights in those countries that are parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Members of CEDAW are obligated to submit reports
every four years on the steps that they have taken to improve the condition of women in their
territory. The Committee meets twice a year to review these reports and comments on them.
Another important function of the Committee is to single out the problems that predominantly
affect women, such as sexual harassment and domestic violence, and to make
recommendations to members of CEDAW on how to tackle these issues.

GROUP 4: Include the names of the committees and explain their function
The Committee on the Rights of the Child monitors the implementation of the Convention on
the Rights of the Child (CRC) by member states. The Committee meets in Geneva and holds three
sessions a year. States parties to CRC are required to submit reports on the situation of children in
their territory every five years. The Committee reviews these reports and makes
recommendations to state parties. The Committee holds annual thematic discussions on
issues that affect children. The ESC rights enshrined in the CRC are: Article 7 Right to care; Article
6 Right to survival and development; Article 18 Right to state assistance; Article 20 Rights of children
deprived of family environment to care; Article 24 Right to health and health services; Article 26 Right
to social security; Article 27 Right to adequate standard of living; Article 28 Right to education; Article
31 Rights to leisure, play and culture; and Article 32 Child labor.

Apart from ICESCR, CEDAW, and CRC, economic, social and cultural rights are also recognized in
many other international conventions and declarations. CERD (Committe on the Eliminatiion of all
forms of Racial Discrimination) is a key convention in regards for those seeking to challenge
racial discrimination in the respect of economic, social and cultural rights. As with ICESCR,
CEDAW and CRC, there is a UN enforcement mechanism, the Committee on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination which monitors adherence to the principles set forth in the
convention. Additionally, people and communities who have been denied there ESCR on the basis of
race or ethnicity may approach the committee with individual complaints, if their country has
recognized the authority of the Committee to do so. In addition, all people, whether citizens of a
country or not, are entitled to fundamental human rights, including basic economic, social and cultural
rights. The Committee on the Protection of Migrant Workers monitors implementation of the
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members
of their Family. The Committee meets once a year and can accept individual complaints under
certain circumstances if the state in question has accepted the authority of the Committee to accept
individual complaints concerning the state's jurisdiction.