On 9 April 2014, the General Assembly adopted resolution 68/268, entitled “Strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system”, by which it decided to consider the state of the human rights treaty body system no later than six years from the date of adoption of the resolution, to review the effectiveness of the measures taken in order to ensure their sustainability, and, if appropriate, to decide on further action to strengthen and enhance the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system.

The President of the General Assembly requested the co-facilitators to undertake informal consultations and to submit this report to him before the end of the 74th session of the Assembly, outlining recommendations for consideration.

The process was formally launched by the co-facilitators during a first meeting held on 2 June 2020 (virtual). The launch meeting was followed by a technical expert level briefing on the treaty body system, organized jointly with OHCHR, on 4 June 2020 (virtual).

Call for written contributions: On 17 June 2020, the co-facilitators launched a call for written contributions from all the relevant actors on their assessments of the treaty body system and their vision for the strengthening of the system. The submissions received are available below.

Consultations:

• Informal consultations with Member States in New York on 27 July 2020 (virtual)
• with Member States in Geneva on 28 August 2020 (hybrid)
• plus an additional expert level meeting with Member States in Geneva on 2 September 2020 (virtual)
• A meeting with the Chairs of the treaty bodies on 28 July 2020 (virtual)
• A meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and her team in Geneva on 28 August 2020,
• A meeting in Geneva on 28 August 2020 with all other relevant stakeholders, including civil society and national human rights institutions.

 Reporting: The co-facilitators organized a wrap-up meeting on 11 September 2020 (virtual), during which they presented their assessment of the process, as well as their main findings and recommendations.

 Summary

• A.Use of information and communication technologies
  • Individual communications
  • Nomination and selection of treaty body members
• B. Alignment of working methods and rules of procedure
  • Simplified reporting procedure
  • Aligned methodology for constructive dialogue
  • Aligned methodology for concluding observations and follow-up recommendations
  • Aligned modalities for stakeholder interaction
• C.  Fixed calendar and periodicity of the human rights treaty bodies sessions
• D.Accessibility by different stakeholders
  • Civil society, national human rights institutions and academic platforms
  • Persons with disabilities
  • Reviews in the regions
• E. Capacity-building and technical assistance
• F.  Budgetary issues
• G. Recommendations for the way forward

1. Informal consultations with Member States in New York on 27 July 2020 (virtual)
2. with Member States in Geneva on 28 August 2020 (hybrid)
3.  plus an additional expert level meeting with Member States in Geneva on 2 September 2020 (virtual)
4. A meeting with the Chairs of the treaty bodies on 28 July 2020 (virtual)
5. A meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and her team in Geneva on 28 August 2020,
6. A meeting in Geneva on 28 August 2020 with all other relevant stakeholders, including civil society and national human rights institutions.