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Mr Chairman,
I am pleased to make this statement on behalf of Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
The human rights treaty bodies play a vital role in the promotion and protection of human rights at the national level. We welcome the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ early indication that support for the treaty bodies is one of the highest priorities for her Office.
At the heart of the treaty body system is the objective of full and effective implementation of human rights treaty obligations by States, including reporting to the treaty bodies and implementation of their recommendations. A strengthened treaty body system supports this goal.
In recent times we have seen all parties - States, the treaty bodies and the Secretariats which serve the treaty bodies - work together for the continued improvement of the human rights protection system. It is no longer entirely accurate to talk about supporting the “reform” of treaty bodies. What we are all supporting now is a process of continuous improvement. We are all encouraged and inspired by the Secretary-General’s support for this goal and the steps towards improving the operation of the treaty bodies that are in train.
Mr Chairman,
The Inter-Committee Meeting is proving a valuable forum for bringing more consistency and coherence to the treaty body system. This was demonstrated by the Third Inter - Committee Meeting in June 2004 which explored the use of an Expanded Core Document and targeted reports, harmonised guidelines for reporting, the working methods of the Committees, and how to best engage National Human Rights Institutions and NGOs in the treaty body system. We welcome this work, which will clearly assist the identification of best practice, and lead to further substantive improvements to the system. Ongoing leadership by the Committee Chairs will also be fundamental to maintaining the momentum of this process.
There is also much that individual treaty bodies can do, and are already doing, to improve the way they work. In this context, we welcome their now regular dialogues with States on working methods. We note those committees with a backlog of reports awaiting consideration are examining proactive measures to address this, including the possibility of meeting simultaneously in chambers. In our view, it is imperative that reports are considered in a timely way to ensure the effectiveness and integrity of the human rights system. Addressing the backlog will have resource implications - as will the increasing demand for technical assistance. We urge the Secretariats of Committees to seek new and innovative ways to use existing resources more efficiently. Further, we commend to the Fifth Committee for its consideration proposals to improve the operations of Treaty Bodies.
We also welcome the measures being adopted by the Committees to enter into dialogue with non-reporting states. It is important to find out why States are not complying with their reporting commitments, to provide assistance where it is needed, and to be proactive in addressing those that disregard their reporting obligations.
We would like to stress the importance of Committees concentrating in their Concluding Observations on concrete measures which can be implemented by States and on which States can focus in subsequent reports to the Committees. They should focus technical and political support on practical improvements to the human rights situation on the ground. The role of country rapporteurs within Committees is important to the preparation of focussed Concluding Observations and effective follow up. We encourage all human rights treaty bodies to enhance their emphasis on implementation and follow up of the Concluding Observations.
Mr Chairman,
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights continues to play a critical role. It has examined its own working methods and introduced steps to increase consistency across the system through the pooling of Secretariat resources. We encourage the Office and the Committees to look at further working smarter initiatives.
We would also like to commend the Office for its recent recommendations regarding technical parameters for reports to the treaty bodies. These parameters, which include page limits and other technical guidance, will assist States prepare reports in an efficient manner and will assist the treaty bodies to consider these reports efficiently. We hope that by following these guidelines, States will assist the treaty bodies to reduce the current backlog of reports.
Mr Chairman,
As States Parties, we should also be in a process of constant improvement in the way we implement our human rights obligations, including our reporting obligations under the human rights treaties. We are currently looking at our own reporting processes in view of the proposals considered by the Inter-Committee meeting and the technical guidelines issues by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. We are encouraged to hear that a number of other States are taking similar steps and particularly welcome the fact that Timor Leste will pilot the new system with the assistance of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Finally, there is scope for even greater use of information technology by all stakeholders to reduce the enormous paper mountain and we encourage innovative thinking to reduce the cost and volume of documentation.
Mr Chairman,
The human rights reporting system is ultimately about improving the human rights situation at the national level and thereby making a difference to the lives of ordinary people. It is about implementation. A reporting system that is accessible and innovative will lighten the load for States, and facilitate States meeting their reporting obligations, whilst maintaining a robust process for monitoring national human rights situations. It will also be important to maintain and strengthen focus on technical assistance to help States, particularly small States, to fulfil their obligations under the treaties.
The challenge for us all is to ensure that the proposals now being developed achieve these ends.
Thank you.
