The GHRP Contributes to the Development of the UN Treaty Body Impact Database 2020+

20 April 2021

The Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) is collaborating with the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria and the Office of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the development of an online database aimed at assessing the impact of the UN human rights treaty body (TB) system.

The ‘Impact Database 2020+' will be an open-access, online database that allows interested parties worldwide to have access to core sources – documents available in the UN system or at the domestic level – that provide evidence of the direct impact of UN human rights treaties and of decisions taken by the related UN TBs. ‘Impact database 2020 +’ will thus serve as a ‘first-stop shop’ for those who wish to obtain the full picture of impact globally, or on any particular subject, country or geographical area.

An Indispensable Tool for Local Human Rights Actors

This database will constitute an essential tool for all domestic stakeholders working with UN TBs, including civil society organizations and academics. Their direct input to the database and the resulting data made available in digital format are expected to increase domestic ownership of TB processes as well as strengthening the monitoring and follow-up of TBs’ recommendations by all stakeholders of the system.

2021 Focus

In 2021, the research team will develop a network of core partner universities – around 50 with one per country –, which will act as national focal points for the database. Throughout the year, selected national focal points/partner universities will be trained on how to collect ‘country documentation’.

Clinical groups at leading universities such as Harvard, the Geneva Academy, Bristol and others have already started to participate by collecting such information.

At the Geneva Academy, a team of students from the LLM programme is already working on the identification of TB impact in a number of selected countries, under the supervision of Dr Domenico Zipoli and the GHRP team. Furthermore, 20 contacts have already been established through an edited book initiative led by Professors Christof Heyns, Frans Viljoen and Rachel Murray on the impact of the UN human rights treaty system on the domestic level (forthcoming, 2021).

NGO Briefings on Senegal Mexico, Belgium, Czech Republic for the UN Human Rights Committee

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

A GHRP training course News

Geneva Human Rights Platform’s Training Hub: Expanding Offerings and Partnerships for 2024

16 February 2024

2023 has been a busy and fruitful year for our Geneva Human Rights Platform’s Training Hub which starts 2024 with an enhanced offer.

Read more

Flag alley at the UN in Geneva News

New Paper Delves into Reporting Practices under International Treaties

13 November 2023

This new working paper by our Geneva Human Rights Platform provides an overview of more than 30 reporting practices, their specificities and good practices in this ever-growing field.

Read more

A hand on a wire fence Event

Recognition of Gender Apartheid as an International Crime: Significance and Challenges

18 April 2024, 18:00-19:30

This panel will address crucial questions surrounding the necessity of a legal framework for gender apartheid under international law.

Read more

A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System: Raising the Bar on Accountability

11-15 November 2024

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.

Read more

Afghanistan, Parwan detention facility. Inside a room where detainees of the prison, separated by an acrylic glass, are allowed to meet with their families a couple of times per year with the help of the ICRC employees who facilitate the programme. Short Course

Preventing and Combating Terrorism

25 April - 17 May 2024

This online short course discusses the extent to which states may limit and/or derogate from their international human rights obligations in order to prevent and counter-terrorism and thus protect persons under their jurisdiction.

Read more

View of a session of the UN Human Rights Council Project

Human Rights Conversations

Started in January 2020

A series of events aimed at discussing contemporary issues and challenges related to the promotion and protection of human rights in Geneva and beyond.

Read more

surveillance image of people Project

Human Rights in a Digitalized World: Mapping Risk, Strengthening Regulation and Promoting the Development of International Human Rights Law

Started in August 2023

To unpack the challenges raised by artificial intelligence, this project will target two emerging and under-researched areas: digital military technologies and neurotechnology.

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

The Human Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment: Understanding its Scope, States Obligations and Links with Other Human Rights

published on March 2024

Christophe Golay, Baïna Ubushieva

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

Environmental Human Rights as a Tool in Early Warning and Conflict Prevention The Role of the Human Rights Council

published on January 2024

Erica Harper, Baïna Ubushieva

Read more