11. Harmonized guidelines on reporting under the international human rights treaties, including guidelines on a common core document and treaty-specific documents (2006)

(International Human Rights Instruments, Fifth Inter-Committee Meeting of the human rights treaty bodies, Eighteenth meeting of chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies, HRI/MC/2006/3, 10 May 2006)

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E. Framework within which human rights are promoted at the national level

43.  States should set out the efforts made to promote respect for all human rights in the State. Such promotion may encompass actions by government officials, legislatures, local assemblies, national human rights institutions, etc, together with the role played by the relevant actors in civil society. States may offer information on measures such as dissemination of information, education and training, publicity, and allocation of budgetary resources. In describing these in the common core document, attention should be paid to the accessibility of promotional materials and human rights instruments, including their availability in all relevant national, local, minority or indigenous languages. In particular, States should provide information on:

(a)  National and regional parliaments and assemblies. The role and activities of the national parliament and sub-national, regional, provincial or municipal assemblies or authorities in promoting and protecting human rights, including those contained in international human rights treaties;

(b) National human rights institutions. Any institutions created for the protection and promotion of human rights at the national level, including those with specific responsibilities with regard to gender equality for all, race relations and children’s rights, their precise mandate, composition, financial resources and activities, and whether such institutions are independent;[3]

(c) Dissemination of human rights instruments. The extent to which each of the international human rights instruments to which the State is party have been translated, published and disseminated within the country;

(d) Raising human rights awareness among public officials and other professionals. Any measures taken to ensure adequate education and training in human rights for those with responsibilities for the implementation of the law, such as Government officials, police, immigration officers, prosecutors, judges, lawyers, prison officers, members of the armed forces, border guards, as well as teachers, medical doctors, health workers and social workers;

(e) Promotion of human rights awareness through educational programmes and Government-sponsored public information. Any measures taken to promote respect for human rights through education and training, including Government-sponsored public information campaigns. Details should be provided on the extent of human rights education within schools, (public or private, secular or religious) at various levels;

(f) Promotion of human rights awareness through the mass media. The role of the mass information media, such as the press, radio, television and internet, in publicizing and disseminating information about human rights, including the international human rights instruments;

(g) Role of civil society, including non-governmental organizations. The extent of the participation of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations, in the promotion and protection of human rights within the country, and the steps taken by the Government to encourage and promote the development of a civil society with a view to ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights;

(h) Budget allocations and trends. Where available, budget allocations and budgetary trends, as percentages of national or regional budgets and gross domestic product (GDP) and disaggregated by sex and age for the implementation of the State’s human rights obligations and the results of any relevant budget impact assessments;

(i) Development cooperation and assistance. The extent to which the State benefits from development cooperation or other assistance which supports human rights promotion, including budgetary allocations. Information on the extent to which the State provides development cooperation or assistance to other States which supports the promotion of human rights in those countries.

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[3]  See the “Principles relating to the status of national human rights institutions” (Paris Principles) E/1992/22 (A/RES/48/134).