How is a states compliance with its obligations under international human rights conventions monitored?
The UN human rights system has several mechanisms for monitoring the compliance of States Parties with their obligations under human rights treaties. These include, for example: monitoring committees established under treaties, to which States Parties are obliged to report on steps taken to comply with their obligations; and special procedures, such as the use of ‘working groups’ or independent experts, who monitor the human rights situation in specific countries or on specific themes. In addition, civil society groups around the world undertake human rights monitoring, including both the monitoring of human rights violations and the monitoring of progress made towards the realisation of human rights. There are several opportunities for these groups to provide input into the UN human rights monitoring system.
