Conference Examines Implementation of UN Human Rights Recommendations

The Open Society Justice Initiative, the Brookings Institution, and UPR-Watch hosted a conference from November 22 to 23 on improving national-level implementation of the findings and recommendations of United Nations human rights mechanisms. The conference focused on treaty bodies, Special Procedures, and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The five-year review of the Human Rights Council, the ongoing reform of the treaty bodies, and the upcoming second cycle of the UPR provide timely opportunities to protect and strengthen these mechanisms’ role in closing the implementation gap.

Speakers offered concrete data and observations about the accomplishments and challenges of each of these mechanisms. They presented recommendations for how to more effectively translate their work into enhanced human rights protection on the ground.

Conference participants included current and former treaty body members and Special Procedures mandate holders, senior UN staff, diplomats, human rights advocates, and members of national human rights institutions.

The conference's primary recommendations are available for download. A more extensive report on the proceedings will be available in January 2011.