The Future of UN Human Rights Treaty Monitoring

Every state in the world has undertaken human rights obligations on the basis of United Nations treaties. Today's challenge is to enhance the effectiveness of procedures and institutions established to promote the accountability of governments. This volume contains detailed analyses of the strengths and weaknesses of the system, written by leading participants in the work of the treaty bodies. Their recommendations provide a blueprint for far-reaching reform of a system of major importance for the future of international efforts to protect human rights. Every State In The World Has Undertaken Human Rights Obligations On The Basis Of Un Treaties. The Six Treaty Bodies That Monitor And Evaluate State Policies And Practices Play A Vital Role, But The Whole System Has Been Stretched Almost To Breaking Point. This Volume Contains Detailed Analyses Of The Strengths And Weaknesses Of The System, Written By Many Leading Participants In The Work Of The Treaty Bodies. Their Recommendations Provide A Blueprint For Far-reaching Reform Of A System Of Major Importance For The Future Of International Efforts To Protect Human Rights.--jacket. The Un Human Rights Treaty System : A System In Crisis? / James Crawford -- Part A. The Un Human Rights Monitoring System In Action. Individual Claims In A World Of Massive Violations : What Role For The Human Rights Committee? / Henry J. Steiner -- Decision-taking In The Committee On The Elimination Of Racial Discrimination / Michael Banton -- The Committee On The Elimination Of Discrimination Against Women At The Crossroads / Mara R. Bustelo -- The Reporting Process Under The Convention On The Rights Of The Child / Gerison Lansdown -- The Committee On Economic, Social And Cultural Rights : Catalyst For Change In A System Needing Reform / Scott Leckie -- Country--oriented Procedures Under The Convention Against Torture : Towards A New Dynamism / Roland Bank -- Un Human Rights Reporting Procedures : An Ngo Perspective / Andrew Clapham --^ Part B. National Influences And Responses. Making Human Rights Treaty Obligations A Reality : Working With New Actors And Partners / Anne Gallagher -- Domestic Implementation Of International Human Rights Treaties : Nordic And Baltic Experiences / Martin Scheinin -- The Domestic Impact Of International Human Rights Standards : The Japanese Experience / Yuji Iwasawa -- The Role Of Human Rights Treaty Standards In Domestic Law : The Southern African Experience / John Dugard -- Uses And Abuses Of The Treaty Reporting Procedure : Hong Kong Between Two Systems / Andrew Byrnes -- The United States And The International Human Rights Treaty System : For Export Only? / Stefanie Grant -- Part C. Regional And Sectoral Comparisons. Reporting In The Inter-american System Of Human Rights Protection / Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade -- Lessons From The Reporting System Of The European Social Charter / David Harris --^ The Role Of Reporting In International Environmental Treaties : Lessons For Human Rights Supervision / Daniel Bodansky -- Part D. Common Challenges For The Treaty Bodies. The Problem Of Overlapping Among Different Treaty Bodies / Eric Tistounet -- Bodies Of Knowledge: A Diversity Promotion Role For The Un High Commissioner For Human Rights / Craig Scott -- Treaty Bodies Responding To States Of Emergency : The Case Of Bosnia And Herzegovina / Michael O'flaherty -- Ensuring Effective Supervisory Procedures : The Need For Resources / Elizabeth Evatt -- Servicing And Financing Human Rights Supervision / Markus Schmidt -- Part E. Looking To The Future. Beyond 'them' And 'us' : Putting Treaty Body Reform Into Perspective / Philip Alston. Edited By Philip Alston And James Crawford. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Every state in the world has undertaken human rights obligations on the basis of UN treaties. Today's challenge is to enhance the effectiveness of procedures and institutions established to promote the accountability of governments. The six treaty bodies that monitor and evaluate state policies and practices play a vital role, but the whole system has been stretched almost to breaking point. It is under-funded, many governments fail to report or do so very late or superficially, there is a growing backlog of individual complaints, broad reservations have been lodged by many states, and the expertise of committee members has been questioned. This volume contains detailed analyses of the strengths and weaknesses of the system, written by leading participants in the work of the treaty bodies. Their recommendations provide a blueprint for far-reaching reform of a system of major importance for the future of international efforts to protect human rights