Credit: ACHPR
In May 2022, various international human rights bodies will meet – some virtually – to continue their monitoring and oversight of States’ human rights practices. For more information on each of the bodies mentioned, visit the Courts & Monitoring Bodies section of the IJRC Online Resource Hub.
At the regional level, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, European Committee of Social Rights, and Inter-American Court of Human Rights will be in session in May. The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has postponed its scheduled hearing in the case of Sanchez v. France, which concerns the conviction of a politician for incitement to hatred based on his failure to promptly remove others’ comments from his Facebook page.
At the United Nations, the two human rights treaty bodies in session are those focused on the rights of children and on torture. The UN special procedure mandate holders scheduled to carry out country visits in May include the Special Rapporteur on slavery, to Mauritania; the Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures, to Iran; the Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter terrorism, to the Maldives; the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty, to Kyrgyzstan; the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, to Brazil; and, the Special Rapporteur on development, to Albania.
Finally, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and special procedures have issued many calls for input with deadlines in May, including for submissions related to: upcoming country visits to Albania, Argentina, Iran, Mauritius, the Netherlands, and the United States; illicit financial flows and human rights; the impact of toxics on Indigenous peoples; cooperation with Georgia; climate change and migrants’ rights; children of African descent; human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals; implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; armed conflict and disability; human trafficking in the context of climate change; COVID-19 and the right to food; adequate housing in the context of conflict; and sanctions.
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) is holding its 71st Ordinary Session, virtually, from April 21 to May 13. The public portions of the agenda include discussion of the human rights situation in Africa and presentation of the activity reports of special mechanisms. Attendees may register to view specific panels or sessions via Zoom, and may also register to speak or make a statement, using the links in the announcement.
European Committee of Social Rights
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) will hold its 327th Session from May 16 to 20. During its sessions, the ECSR deliberates and adopts decisions concerning collective complaints, and prepares draft conclusions on States’ implementation of the European Social Charter, among other activities. Recently, it has been meeting in a hybrid format, with some participants in Strasbourg and others taking part via videoconference. The agenda for the 327th Session is not yet available.
Inter-American Court of Human Rights
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) will hold its 148th Period of Sessions from May 9 to 27. During its sessions, the Court holds public hearings in cases and deliberates in private. Its recent sessions have been virtual. The agenda for the 148th Period of Sessions is not yet available.
UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies
UN treaty bodies have now resumed State party reviews and in-person sessions, which had been postponed because of COVID-19. However, the in-person participation of States and civil society may continue to be limited, as determined by each committee for each session. Treaty bodies’ public activities, including constructive dialogues held as part of State party reviews, are webcast on UN Web TV.
Committee against Torture
The Committee against Torture (CAT) is holding its 73rd Session, in person in Geneva, from April 19 to May 13. The Committee will hold constructive dialogues with Cuba, Iceland, Iraq, Kenya, Montenegro, and Uruguay concerning their implementation of the Convention against Torture. The session programme of work contains additional detail on the Committee’s activities and schedule for the session.
Committee on the Rights of the Child
The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) will hold its 90th Session from May 3 to June 3 in Geneva. The Committee will hold constructive dialogues with Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Greece, Iceland, Kiribati, Somalia, and Zambia concerning their implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The provisional agenda contains additional details.
Additional Information
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the scheduling and format of supranational human rights bodies’ sessions and other activities, particularly at the regional level. The IJRC monthly overviews have detailed these changes, beginning in April 2020. For an overview of the initial changes in human rights oversight caused by the pandemic, see our July 2020 post on OpenGlobalRights.
To view human rights bodies’ past and future activities, visit the IJRC Hearings & Sessions Calendar. For more information on the various human rights monitoring bodies, visit IJRC’s Online Resource Hub. To stay up-to-date on international human rights law news, visit IJRC’s News Room.