A/HRC/25/22
OHCHR website where the full concluding observations can be downloaded. The same is
also done for thematic discussions or the examination of individual complaints.
75.
In 2013, increased awareness, understanding and visibility of the regular work of
treaty bodies among Member States, United Nations partners, NHRIs and civil society
organizations was also promoted through more than 50 briefings by OHCHR on the treaty
body system for a wide range of actors, including State Party representatives, regional
organizations and mechanisms, civil society organizations, lawyers, academics and
students. OHCHR also provided media training for treaty body members.
76.
OHCHR conducted capacity-building activities to assist States parties in complying
with their obligations under the human rights treaties. These activities included training, at
the request of States parties, on preparing the common core document, the treaty specific
guidelines, preparing the report, individual communications and follow-up to
recommendations. In September 2013, a training workshop on reporting and follow-up was
held for the members of the Inter-ministerial Committee for Human Rights, in Rabat. In
November 2013, a training workshop on ratification and reporting under the International
Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance was held for
francophone African countries, in Tunis. Also in November 2013, OHCHR provided
training to members of the Government of the State of Palestine on the implications of
treaty ratification, in particular reporting obligations under the international human rights
treaties, including the reporting cycle, drafting of the common core document, content and
format of periodic reports, and the preparation for the interactive dialogue with the
committees. In December 2013, at the request of the United Nations Joint Human Rights
Office in the Democratic Republic of Congo, training on reporting under the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination and the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment was carried out.
77.
In 2013, OHCHR also commenced work on a study on existing practices regarding
standing national reporting and coordination mechanisms. This study is intended to respond
to requests from States for information and will build on the country practices collected.
Once published, the study may serve as a tool to assist Member States wishing to create or
reinforce such mechanisms.
78.
During the reporting period, OHCHR continued its cooperation with the Registry of
the European Court of Human Rights regarding individual cases. The implementation of
treaty bodies’ decisions and judgements of the European Court of Human Rights was
included in the discussions of the seventh annual meeting on the cooperation between
OHCHR and the Council of Europe. A joint declaration by the Council of Europe and the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was signed in
September 2013; it aims to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations in
promoting and protecting human rights, including in the area of communications and
recommendations in concluding observations.
79.
OHCHR and Microsoft signed a memorandum of understanding to assess and report
on the potential for videoconferencing the treaty bodies sessions, primarily the sessions of
the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with the objective of assessing
the accessibility of committee meetings and improving accessibility processes and practices
at Palais Wilson and Palais des Nations. The accessibility team was made up of
representatives from Microsoft, OHCHR, the United Nations Office at Geneva, Middlesex
University and AbilityNet. The team delivered a report on short-, medium-, and long-term
measures to expand accessibility. OHCHR initiated the implementation of one of the
recommendations, namely, a pilot training workshop on access to documentation and
websites, in June 2013, which was attended by OHCHR staff from both headquarters and
field presences.
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