Choosing where to submit your complaint

This comparison table will help guide you in knowing where to turn should you wish to submit a complaint of an alleged human rights violation.

 

Special procedures

Treaty bodies

Human Rights Council
What can you complain about?
      

Any human rights

    

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Any of the rights that fall under one of the 40+ Special Procedures mandates

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Any of the rights protected by the treaty under which you are complaining

  

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Who can submit a complaint?
      

Victims

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Individuals acting on behalf of victims

   If they have the written consent of the victims  

Groups of individuals or communities

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 If they have the written consent of the victims

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Non-governmental organizations

   If they have the written consent of the victims

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Civil society organizations

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 If they have the written consent of the victims  

National human rights institutions

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 If they have the written consent of the victims  

In each case, there are eligibility criteria. See the FAQs for each option.

 Special Procedures FAQs Treaty Bodies FAQs Human Rights Council FAQs
Who can you make a complaint against?
      

Any Member State of the United Nations

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Any State that is party to the treaty in question

  

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Any State that has accepted the Committee’s competence to examine individual complaints

  

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Inter-governmental organizations

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Non-state actors

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Is the complaints procedure public?
      

Public

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Non-public

    

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How long does it take?
      

As soon as 24 hours (for urgent cases)

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Weeks or months

    

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Two to three years

  

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How do you start the complaints procedure?
      

Learn more and get details here

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Get and fill out a complaint form

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Special procedures FAQs 

            		             

Treaty bodies FAQs 

            		             

Human Rights Council FAQs 

            
            

 

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