A/HRC/10/31
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VII. SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS
71.
OHCHR has continued to support human rights treaty bodies in their quest for
improvement and harmonization of their working methods so that the human rights treaty body
system can provide the best possible framework for the promotion and protection of human
rights for individuals and groups at the national level. In 2008, OHCHR supported all human
rights treaty bodies, and began preparations for the first session of the Committee on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities, which will meet from 23 to 27 February 2009. OHCHR continued
to advocate for universal ratification of all human rights treaties and substantive and procedural
optional protocols thereto, focusing particularly on those treaties, such as the International
Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and the
Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment, where ratification has been slow. OHCHR also strongly encouraged
ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance, which has yet to enter into force. With the adoption of the Optional Protocol to
the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in December 2008, the
Office will campaign energetically for its ratification to facilitate its early entry into force.
72.
Treaty bodies have continued to develop procedures to enhance their accessibility to
States parties, national human rights institutions, civil society and individuals. They have also
focused on simplifying and streamlining their reporting requirements, with a number adopting
their treaty-specific reporting guidelines, which complement the guidelines for the common-core
document. The eighth inter-committee meeting set the deadline for the adoption of the remaining
treaty-specific guidelines for late 2009.
73.
Treaty bodies have sought to make their concluding observations more concrete and
implementable at the national level, with most introducing follow-up procedures relating to
reporting that aim to strengthen the dialogue and cooperation with the State party. The eighth
inter-committee meeting recommended that a working group or task force on follow-up to
concluding observations be established intersessionally, consisting of the rapporteur for followup on concluding observations of each treaty body, if applicable, or the members responsible for
follow-up activities.
74.
Furthermore, the four treaty bodies handling individual complaints procedures have
emphasized the importance of follow-up to views to ensure both individual relief for petitioners
and implementation of treaty provisions generally. Following the adoption of the first follow-up
report on views by the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women, all four treaty bodies now have largely similar follow-up procedures on decisions in
individual cases. Numerous submissions continued to be submitted in 2008 by States parties
providing relevant follow-up information on efforts made to give effect to the treaty bodies’
decisions.
VIII. CONCLUSION
75.
Adequate and effective answers to the human rights challenges outlined in the present
report require a strong commitment by all stakeholders. The commitment made by all Member
States at the 2005 World Summit to make human rights a third and equal United Nations pillar
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