Background

At its 73rd session, on 28 June 2019, the General Assembly adopted resolution 73/304, entitled "Towards torture-free trade: examining the feasibility, scope and parameters for possible common international standards".

Resolution 73/304 requested the Secretary-General to establish a Group of governmental experts, to be chosen on the basis of equitable geographical distribution and guided by the need to appoint individuals reflecting the highest standards of efficiency, competence in the fields of human rights and/or international trade, and integrity.

The Group of Governmental experts, composed of 10 experts, met for the first time (virtually) on 12 and 13 October 2021.

Objectives

Based on paragraph 2 of Resolution 73/304, the Group of governmental experts is expected to examine the feasibility, scope of the goods to be included, and draft parameters for a range of options to establish common international standards on the matter and to transmit the report of the group of experts to the Assembly for consideration at its seventy- sixth session.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

For the purposes of the preparation of this report, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as Secretariat of the Group of Governmental experts, would be grateful to receive information from National Human Rights Institutions, civil society organizations, United Nations agencies, academia, international and regional organizations, corporate entities, individuals, and other stakeholders, on (i) the feasibility of common international standards; (ii) scope of goods to be included; and (iii) draft parameters for a range of options to establish common international standards on the matter.