Introduction to UN and Regional Mechanisms

• The United Nations has several mechanisms that contribute to the promotion of human rights, including treaty bodies tasked with overseeing the implementation of core human rights treaties.

• UN treaty bodies may consider individual complaints against states that have recognised their jurisdiction to do so.

• The UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRCtte) is the treaty body most relevant to freedom of expression and digital rights claims.

• Another mechanism of particular relevance is the special procedures, including the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Introduction

While human rights activism has long been a feature of human society in many different forms, the internationalisation of that movement only truly took root when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10 December 1948. This document was at least in part motivated from a desire to avoid, as noted in its preamble, “barbarous acts which […] outraged the conscience of mankind” during the Second World War. The UDHR was a landmark statement of the basic civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights to which all human beings are entitled. However, the UDHR is not legally binding because it is a declaration. Two subsequent legally binding instruments were eventually elaborated, namely the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and its two Optional Protocols, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The ICCPR, UDHR and ICESCR form the International Bill of Human Rights. Numerous other treaties, such as the Convention Against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, have also been developed under the auspices of the United Nations. The United Nations has a variety of mechanisms to encourage compliance with the human rights guaranteed under these instruments. This Module presents an overview of these mechanisms with a focus on treaty bodies and the special procedures system.

In this module

1. Introduction
2. Overview of UN Mechanisms
3. Recourse under Treaty Bodies
4. Recourse under the Special Procedures
5. The African Union and the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
6. The Arab Charter on Human Rights and the League of Arab States
7. Conclusion

Access full module

Disclaimer: This publication is provided for information and research purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, Media Defence accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this material. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice before acting on any of the information contained in this publication.