Geneva Academy
25 September 2018
The two coordinators of the Academic Platform on Treaty Body Review 2020, Felix Kirchmeier and Kamelia Kemileva, presented our publication ‘Optimizing the UN Treaty Bodies System’ at an informal meeting of the European Union (EU) Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM).
At this meeting, held in Vienna under the auspices of the EU’s Austrian Presidency, they shared with human rights experts from capitals and EU diplomats the main findings and recommendations entailed in the publications and discussed the UN treaty bodies strengthening process.
‘It’s a great opportunity for us to share the conclusions of a three-year consultative process with the body that handles all human rights aspects of EU’s external relations and that supports the EU Council's decision-making process in this area’ stresses Kamelia Kemileva.
‘Diplomats welcomed our independent approach, grounded in academic research and free from vested interests and institutional limitations, and recognized its key contribution to the 2020 process’ underlines Felix Kirchmeier.

The Academic Platform on Treaty Body Review 2020 forms part of the Geneva Human Rights Platform (HRP).
The HRP provides a neutral and dynamic forum of interaction in Geneva for all stakeholders in the field of human rights – experts, practitioners, diplomats and civil society – to discuss and debate topical issues and challenges. Relying on academic research and findings, it works to enable various actors to be better connected, break silos, and, hence, advance human rights.
News
Christian Lue, Unplash
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News
UNIDO
Our new Working Paper examines existing mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels for holding states accountable for their performance in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Training
UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré
This training course will explore the origin and evolution of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its functioning in Geneva and will focus on the nature of implementation of the UPR recommendations at the national level.
Short Course
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This short course, which can be followed in Geneva or online, will provide participants with an introduction to substantive human rights law. It will start with an introduction to the nature and sources of international human rights law and its place in the international legal system. The course will then provide a presentation of the main principles applicable to substantive rights (jurisdiction, obligation and limitations).
Project
Olivier Chamard/Geneva Academy
The GHRP Fridays provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to discuss the results of the United Nations (UN) Treaty Body (TB) 2020 Review and practical ways to implement change.
Project
Olivier Chamard / Geneva Academy
The Treaty Body Members’ Platform connects experts in UN treaty bodies with each other as well as with Geneva-based practitioners, academics and diplomats to share expertise, exchange views on topical questions and develop synergies.
Publication