The Future of UN Human Rights Treaty Monitoring

Description

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.

'... provides a helpful understanding of the nature of the problems faced in trying to monitor human rights activities.' International Relations of the Asia-Pacific 'Fundamental merit of this very useful volume is to present clearly and sympathetically the topic and the discussion, based on their own experience.' Tullio Treves, Rassegna Bibliografica '... observations, critical evaluations and reformist recommendations are precisely stated ... highly descriptive ... a book that is worth reading, and provides a helpful understanding of the nature of the problems faced in trying to monitor human rights activities.' International Relations of the Asia-Pacific