Guide to the Treaty Body system published in all six UN languages

GENEVA 20 May 2015 – A simple guide to the key role the Human Rights Treaty Bodies play in protecting human rights has been produced by the UN Human Rights Office in the UN’s six official languages.

The guide, entitled “The Human Rights Treaty Bodies – Protecting Your Rights”, explains what the independent expert Committees are; how States parties’ compliance with treaties is monitored by the Treaty Bodies and what role governments and others, such as civil society, play in the process.

The eight-page guide which is available online and also as a published booklet explains the reporting cycle and the individual complaints process.

“This booklet is part of our ongoing efforts to make the work of the Treaty Bodies, which lie at the heart of the international human rights protection system, more visible and accessible,” said Ibrahim Salama, head of the Human Rights Treaties Division. “We hope this simple guide will be of use to a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, civil society representatives, media, students, and the general public.”

The online booklet is available here:
Arabic: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/TB/TB_booklet_ar.pdf
Chinese: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/TB/TB_booklet_ch.pdf
English: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/TB/TB_booklet_en.pdf
French: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/TB/TB_booklet_fr.pdf
Russian: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/TB/TB_booklet_ru.pdf
Spanish: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/TB/TB_booklet_sp.pdf

For published copies of the booklet, please contact: publications@ohchr.org

ENDS

For further information:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/Pages/HumanRightsBodies.aspx

What is a human rights treaty body? (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE0T45t040k&feature=related