The International Justice Resource Center has some important updates for our online visitors and users. This post will explain how you can continue to access the information that is useful to you.

As we announced last October, the newly-established Center for Global Law and Justice (CGLJ) at Northeastern Law will be the new home and steward for the explanations, guides, videos, and other resources on human rights law and advocacy created by IJRC since 2010. This coming week, that transition will take effect.

Here’s what you should know:

• • you can find the new CGLJ Resource Hub at https://cglj.org/. It houses all of the materials from the IJRC Online Resource Hub, and more!

• • beginning next week, incoming traffic to the IJRC website will automatically redirect to the CGLJ Resource Hub, meaning the IJRC website will no longer be accessible as of approximately May 21

• • you can subscribe to receive information on new Resource Hub content and/or CGLJ activities through the CGLJ mailing lists: https://cglj.org/signup/

• • if you have questions or concerns related to the new site, please email cgljresourcehub@northeastern.edu

• • for any IJRC-related communications, you will continue to be able to contact IJRC at ijrc@ijrcenter.org

• • you can find an archived version of the IJRC site on the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250000000000*/ijrcenter.org

IJRC itself will be shutting down later this year, though all of us who have been involved in the organization will continue to work for the advancement of human rights in various ways.

Our sincerest thanks to everyone at CGLJ and Northeastern, and especially to Elizabeth Ennen, for their partnership, generosity, and vision in breathing new life into our shared mission. And thank you to all IJRC’s board members, advisory board members, staff members, law fellows, interns, volunteers, partners, and online visitors who have made our efforts fruitful and rewarding.

We are writing to share some important – and exciting – news about the future of the International Justice Resource Center and the informational materials we have developed since 2010. In short: we are thrilled to announce that the newly-established Center for Global Law and Justice (CGLJ) at Northeastern Law will become the new home and steward for the IJRC Online Resource Hub in 2025. CGLJ shares in our excitement, as you can see in its announcement released today.

IJRC’s mission is to “to empower individuals, through knowledge, to use the law and legal mechanisms for the greater protection of human rights around the world” and the IJRC team has done this primarily through creating and publishing educational tools, analysis, and guidance that anyone can access through the IJRC Online Resource Hub. However, as a small non-profit organization, we have come to recognize that our mission and our services may be more effectively and efficiently fulfilled by an institution that is part of a broader academic community, rather than as a standalone organization. As such, the IJRC Board of Directors has engaged in conversations with several academic institutions and thought carefully about how to ensure the ongoing availability and relevance of the resources we have produced. We are truly grateful to each of the institutions who expressed interest in taking over the IJRC Online Resource Hub.

In selecting CGLJ, we are really pleased to know that the Online Resource Hub materials will not only be maintained but will grow, through the contributions of Northeastern Law students and faculty. Northeastern Law stands out for its commitment to training the public interest lawyers of the future and is home to inspiring, committed, innovative human rights scholars and practitioners. CGLJ Director Elizabeth Ennen, together with Faculty Co-Directors Martha Davis and Zinaida Miller, have dedicated their professional lives to expanding protection of rights and access to justice. We are absolutely thrilled that these three incredible leaders will take IJRC’s work forward.

CGLJ is currently working on creating a new website, to be launched in 2025, that will house this collection of resources. We will write again to share the details as the launch approaches. In the meantime, the Online Resource Hub will continue to be available to you and the many human rights defenders, scholars, journalists, and students who use it every day – at www.ijrcenter.org.

For IJRC, this transition will mean shutting down both the Online Resource Hub and the organization itself in 2025. Again, we will share more details over the coming months.

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to each person reading this note and to the past and present partners, board members, advisory board members, staff members, law fellows, interns, volunteers, and online visitors who have shaped and motivated IJRC’s work. Thank you. It has been a wonderful journey, and we hope you’ll continue to accompany us through this last chapter.

With warm regards,

Lisa Reinsberg, Executive Director, on behalf of the IJRC Board of Directors

In March 2024, various regional and universal human rights bodies will hold sessions or hearings to continue their oversight and adjudication of human rights issues. 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 and Inter-American human rights commissions and courts will be in session in March, as will the European Committee of Social Rights. The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) wil hold a hearing in the case of Ships Waste Oil Collector B.V. and Others v. the Netherlands on March 6. 

At the United Nations, the Human Rights Council will be in session, along with the human rights treaty bodies focused on economic, social, and cultural rights; enforced disappearances; civil and political rights; and, the rights of persons with disabilities. The UN special procedure mandate holders scheduled to carry out country visits in March include the Working Group on mercenaries, to Côte d’Ivoire; the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, to Colombia; the Independent Expert on older persons, to Peru; the Independent Expert on a democratic international order, to the Maldives; and, the Special Rapporteur on cultural rights, to Chile. 

Finally, the OHCHR and special procedures have issued many calls for input with deadlines in March 2024, including for submissions related to: resettlement, the role of workers’ organizations in addressing contemporary forms of slavery, gender and toxics, the right to development, access to information on hazardous substances, discrimination against women and girls, financing and mercenarism, mobile Indigenous Peoples, arms transfers, cyberbullying against persons with disabilities, water management in food systems, unilateral coercive measures, missing persons, digital technologies in the administration of justice, LGBTI people and business activities, civil society and international solidarity, and the relationship between climate change and girls’ right to education. Additional calls for input concern country visits to Denmark and Greenland, Canada, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Finland, Sweden, Brazil, the Maldives, and the United States of America. 

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) is holding its 72nd Ordinary Session from February 12 to March 8. Additional details will be publicized closer to the start of the session. Videos of the opening ceremony and delivery of the judgments are available on the Court’s YouTube channel.

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) is holding its 78th Private Ordinary Session, virtually, from February 23 to March 8. The session will not include public participation.

Separately, the ACHPR is seeking inputs to its draft Declaration on the Promotion of the Role of Human Rights Defenders and their Protection in Africa, which may be submitted by March 31. [ACHPR Press Release]

European Committee of Social Rights

The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) will hold its 340th Session from March 18 to 22. The agenda and synopsis of the session will be posted on the Committee’s webpage after the conclusion of the session.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) will hold its 165th Ordinary Session from March 7 to 22. Additional information will be available closer to the start of the session.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is holding its 189th Period of Sessions from February 26 to March 7, in person at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. During the session, the IACHR is holding public hearings concerning issues of concern and pending complaints. [IACHR Press Release] The IACHR has also convened three hearings at its own initiative, to address judicial independence, the situation of human rights defenders, and the human rights of older people.

UN Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council is holding its 55th regular session from February 26 to April 5, in Geneva. According to its agenda, the Council will hear the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as other reports by the OHCHR, Secretary-General, and special procedure mandate holders on specific countries and topics. The documentation for the session is available online. The Council will appoint mandate holders to various special procedures, including those focused on the rights of Indigenous peoples, a democratic and equitable international order, the situation of human rights in Mali, a healthy environment, climate change, truth and justice, peaceful assembly and association, the rights of peasants, and the use of mercenaries. The Council will consider and adopt the final outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Djibouti, Germany, Russia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, and Uzbekistan.

UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies

Various UN treaty bodies will convene this month. The full schedule can be viewed on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Teamup Calendar. Treaty bodies’ public activities, including constructive dialogues held as part of State party reviews, will be webcast on UN Web TV. 

Additionally, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers (CMW) have issued a call for submissions on a concept paper for a joint General Comment/Recommendation on the obligations of State parties concerning public policies to address xenophobia and its impact on migrants, their families, and other non-citizens affected by racial discrimination.

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) is holding its 75th Session from February 12 to March 1 in person in Geneva. The Committee will hold constructive dialogues with Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Mauritania, Romania, and Sweden, in addition to conducting follow-up to its concluding observations concerning Belgium and Kuwait.

Committee on Enforced Disappearances

The Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) is holding its 26th Session from February 19 to March 1, in person in Geneva. Its program of work includes holding a constructive dialogue with Cambodia, adopting the list of issues for Malawi, and conducting follow-up to its concluding observations concerning Panama. In addition, the CED will adopt a list of issues in absence of a report from Belize, and consider additional information submitted by Burkina Faso and Honduras.

Human Rights Committee

The Human Rights Committee will hold its 140th Session from March 4 to 28, in Geneva with hybrid participation. It will consider the reports of Chile, Guyana, Indonesia, Namibia, Serbia, Somalia, and the United Kingdom, concerning their implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Committee will also adopt lists of issues concerning the reports of Mongolia and Vietnam, as well lists of issues prior to the reports of Andorra, Azerbaijan, Djibouti, and Mali. The Committee will conduct follow-up to prior concluding observations regarding Finland, Paraguay, Tunisia, and Uzbekistan. The programme of work for the sessions also includes consideration of individual communications, an informal meeting with States parties, and adoption of its annual report.

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) will hold its 30th Session from March 4 to 22 in Geneva. The CRPD’s programme of work includes consideration of the State reports of Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Nicaragua, Sweden, and Zambia, as well as follow-up to inquiry reports concerning Spain and the United Kingdom.

Additional Information

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.  

In February 2024, various regional and universal human rights bodies will hold sessions or hearings to continue their oversight and adjudication of human rights issues. 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 and Inter-American human rights commissions and courts will be in session. The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is not scheduled to hold any hearings this month. 

At the United Nations, the Human Rights Council will be in session, along with the human rights treaty bodies focused on discrimination against women; economic, social, and cultural rights; enforced disappearances; and, children. The UN special procedure mandate holders scheduled to carry out country visits in February include a visit by the Special Rapporteur on food, to Venezuela, and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, to the United Kingdom.

Finally, the OHCHR and special procedures have issued many calls for input with deadlines in February 2024, including for submissions related to: the right to development, migrants’ contributions, the status of the human rights treaty body system, the right to development and international development cooperation, legal capacity and informed consent of older persons, Indigenous persons with disabilities, civil society and international solidarity, academic freedom, and digital education, as well as forthcoming visits to Chile, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Peru, and the United Kingdom. 

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) will hold its 72nd Ordinary Session from February 12 to March 8. Additional details will be publicized closer to the start of the session. Videos of the opening ceremony and delivery of the judgments will be available on the Court’s YouTube channel.

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Per the final communiqué from its last session, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) will hold its 78th Private Ordinary Session, virtually, from February 23 to March 8. The session will not include public participation.

Separately, the ACHPR is seeking inputs to its draft Declaration on the Promotion of the Role of Human Rights Defenders and their Protection in Africa, which may be submitted by March 31. [ACHPR Press Release]

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) is holding its 164th Regular Session from January 24 to February 9, 2024 in hybrid form from its seat in Costa Rica. [IACtHR Press Release (Spanish)] The Court will hold public hearings in seven cases, in addition to other activities.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) wil hold its 189th Period of Sessions from February 26 to March 7, in person at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Commission will hold public hearings concerning issues of concern and pending complaints, and is also accepting expressions of interest in three hearings the IACHR is organizing at its own initiative. [IACHR Press Release] Those hearings will address judicial independence, the situation of human rights defenders, and the human rights of older people. Expressions of interest in participating are due by February 1.

UN Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council will hold its 55th regular session from February 26 to April 5, in Geneva. According to its agenda, the Council will hear the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as other reports by the OHCHR, Secretary-General, and special procedure mandate holders on specific countries and topics. The documentation for the session is available online. The Council will appoint mandate holders to various special procedures, including those focused on the rights of Indigenous peoples, a democratic and equitable international order, the situation of human rights in Mali, a healthy environment, climate change, truth and justice, peaceful assembly and association, the rights of peasants, and the use of mercenaries. The Council will consider and adopt the final outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Djibouti, Germany, Russia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, and Uzbekistan.

Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review

The Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review is holding its 45th session from January 22 to February 2 to conduct the fourth cycle reviews for Belize, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Congo, Jordan, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Nigeria, Senegal, and Saudi Arabia.

UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies

Various UN treaty bodies will convene this month. The full schedule can be viewed on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Teamup Calendar. Treaty bodies’ public activities, including constructive dialogues held as part of State party reviews, will be webcast on UN Web TV. 

Committee on the Rights of the Child

The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is holding its 95th Session from January 15 to February 2, in person in Geneva, Switzerland. The Committee has held constructive dialogues with Bulgaria, Congo, Lithuania, Russia, Senegal, and South Africa concerning their implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It has also considered Senegal’s implementation of the two optional protocols, concerning child prostitution and children in armed conflict. 

Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) is holding its 87th Session from January 29 to February 16, in person in Geneva. The Committee is holding constructive dialogues with the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Greece, Italy, Niger, Oman, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan concerning their implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) will hold its 75th Session from February 12 to March 1 in person in Geneva. The Committee will hold constructive dialogues with Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Mauritania, Romania, and Sweden, in addition to conducting follow-up to its concluding observations concerning Belgium and Kuwait.

Committee on Enforced Disappearances

The Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) will hold its 26th Session from February 19 to March 1, in person in Geneva. It will hold constructive dialogues with Cambodia,  adopt the list of issues for Malawi, and conduct follow-up to its concluding observations concerning Panama. In addition, the CED will adopt a list of issues in absence of a report from Belize, and consider additional information submitted by Burkina Faso and Honduras.

Additional Information

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. 

In December 2023, various regional and universal human rights bodies will hold sessions or hearings to continue their oversight and adjudication of human rights issues. 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 Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and European Committee of Social Rights will be in session. The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) will hold a hearing in the case of Ukraine v. Russia (re Crimea) on December 13. 

At the United Nations, the human rights treaty bodies in session are those focused on racial discrimination and the rights of migrant workers. The UN special procedure mandate holders scheduled to carry out country visits in December include the Special Rapporteur on housing, to the Netherlands. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is planning several activities connected to the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including a high-level event scheduled for December 11 and 12.

Finally, the OHCHR and special procedures have issued many calls for input with deadlines in December 2023, including for submissions related to: arms transfers, the situation of people of African descent in the Asia Pacific region, civil society space, and the gendered impacts of the coup and conflict in Myanmar. 

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) is holding its 71st Ordinary Session from November 6 to December 4, in Algiers, Algeria, where it will also meet with governmental representatives and the Bar Association. During the session, the judges will deliberate on 13 pending applications and deliver nine judgments. Videos of the opening ceremony and delivery of the judgments are available on the Court’s YouTube channel.

European Committee of Social Rights

The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) will hold its 338th Session from December 4 to 8, at its headquarters in Strasbourg, France. The session agenda and synopsis will subsequently be available on the sessions webpage.

UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies

Various UN treaty bodies will convene this month. The full schedule can be viewed on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Teamup Calendar. Treaty bodies’ public activities, including constructive dialogues held as part of State party reviews, will be webcast on UN Web TV. 

Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is holding its 111th Session, in person in Geneva, from November 20 to December 8. The Committee’s programme of work includes constructive dialogues with Bolivia, Bulgaria, Germany, Morocco, South Africa, and Vietnam. While the CERD will conduct its dialogues with States in person, its meetings with non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions will take place in a hybrid manner.

Committee on Migrant Workers

The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW) is holding its 37th Session from November 27 to December 8, in person in Geneva. The CMW will consider the State reports of Kyrgyzstan, Sao Tome and Principe, and Uruguay, and will adopt lists of issues for its review of Benin, Gambia, and Mexico. The Committee will also conduct follow-up to its prior concluding observations for Chile. While the CMW will mostly conduct its dialogues with States in person, its meetings with non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions will take place in a hybrid manner, per its programme of work.

Additional Information

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.  

In October 2023, various regional and universal human rights bodies will hold sessions or hearings to continue their oversight and adjudication of human rights issues. 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 Commission and Court will all be in session. The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) does not currently have any hearings scheduled for October.

At the United Nations, the human rights treaty bodies in session are those focused on economic, social and cultural rights; discrimination against women; civil and political rights; and, torture.

The UN special procedure mandate holders scheduled to carry out country visits in October include the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion, to Sweden; the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, to Australia; and the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, to Georgia.

Finally, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and special procedures have issued many calls for input with deadlines in October 2023, including for submissions related to: advocacy of hatred based on religion or belief, social development challenges faced by persons with albinism, resettlement, investors and human rights, conscientious objection to military service, decriminalization of homelessness, exploitation of children in the entertainment industry, environmental democracy, and fiscal systems. Several mandate holders are also seeking inputs for upcoming visits to Australia, Côte d’Ivoire, Georgia, Netherlands, Ukraine, United States of America, and the African Union judicial and human rights organs.

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) will hold its 77th Ordinary Session from October 20 to November 9, in person in Arusha, Tanzania. The ACHPR’s agenda includes discussion of the human rights situation in Africa and consideration of activity reports and the periodic reports of Eritrea and Uganda.

European Committee of Social Rights

The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) will hold its 337th Session from October 16 to 20, at its headquarters in Strasbourg, France. The session agenda and synopsis will subsequently be available on the sessions webpage.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) will hold its 162nd Regular Session from October 9 to 13, in Colombia. During its sessions, the Court holds public hearings in cases and deliberates in private. The agenda for the session is not yet available. 

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) will hold its 188th Period of Sessions from October 30 to November 10, in hybrid mode. In response to requests, the IACHR will hold hearings in Washington, D.C. and via Zoom on pending cases and on topics of concern in particular countries and in the region. The Commission has announced two ex officio public hearings, on the rights of persons deprived of liberty in Jamaica, and on the social protests in Peru.

Human Rights Council

The UN Human Rights Council is holding its 54th session from September 11 to October 13, in person in Geneva, Switzerland. Among other activities, the draft programme of work and agenda indicate the Council will elect members of its Advisory Committee and appoint 12 special procedure mandate holders. The Council President’s list of proposed candidates and the applications of all candidates are available online.

The Council will also hold annual or biennial discussions related to integration of a gender perspective, the rights of Indigenous peoples, unilateral coercive measures, and youth and human rights, in addition to many interactive dialogues with mandate holders.

The Council is scheduled to adopt the outcome reports from the latest Universal Periodic Review cycle for Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Burundi, France, Israel, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mali, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Tonga, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Council will also consider various reports from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and numerous special procedure mandate holders. The documentation for the session is available online, and the public portions of the session will be webcast on UN Web TV.

Separately, on October 10, the UN General Assembly will elect 15 members to the Human Rights Council, for the 2024-2026 term.

UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies

Various UN treaty bodies will convene this month. The full schedule can be viewed on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Teamup Calendar. Treaty bodies’ public activities, including constructive dialogues held as part of State party reviews, will be webcast on UN Web TV. 

Additionally, the States parties to the Convention against Torture will meet on October 19 to elect five members to the Committee against Torture.

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) is holding its 74th Session, in person in Geneva, from September 25 to October 13. The Committee’s programme of work includes constructive dialogues with Armenia, Brazil, Chad, France, Qatar, and Palestine. The CESCR will consider the implementation of prior recommendations by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, and Latvia under its follow-up procedure.

Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) will hold its 86th Session from October 9 to 27, in person in Geneva. The Committee’s programme of work includes constructive dialogues with Albania, Bhutan, France, Guatemala, Jamaica, Malawi, Nicaragua, Philippines, and Uruguay.

Human Rights Committee

The Human Rights Committee will hold its 139th Session from October 9 to November 3, in person in Geneva. Its programme of work includes constructive dialogues with Haiti, Iran, Kuwait, Republic of Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, and Venezuela. The Committee will consider the implementation of prior recommendations by Belgium, Czech Republic, Mauritania, and Nigeria under its follow-up procedure; it will also adopt lists of issues for Pakistan, San Marino, and Slovakia.

Committee against Torture

The Committee against Torture (CAT) will hold its 78th Session from October 30 to November 24, in person in Geneva. While the session documents are not yet online, the CAT is scheduled to hold constructive dialogues with Burundi, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Kiribati, and Slovenia.

Additional Information

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.  

In September 2023, various regional and universal human rights bodies will hold sessions or hearings to continue their oversight and adjudication of human rights issues. 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 Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, European Committee of Social Rights, and Inter-American Court of Human Rights will be in session. The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) will hold a hearing on September 27 in the case of Duarte Agostinho and Others v. Portugal and Others.

At the United Nations, the human rights treaty bodies in session are those focused on the rights of persons with disabilities; children; enforced disappearances; and, on economic, social and cultural rights.

The UN special procedure mandate holders scheduled to carry out country visits in September include the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, to Mauritania; the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, to Montenegro; the Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly and association, to Algeria; the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, to Georgia; and, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty, to Ecuador.

Finally, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and special procedures have issued many calls for input with deadlines in September 2023, including for submissions related to: resettlement, law enforcement and peaceful protest, unilateral coercive measures, business and human rights, discrimination against women and girls, decriminalization of homelessness, and youth-led organizations and the future of human rights. Several mandate holders are also seeking inputs for upcoming visits to Brazil, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, Finland, Honduras, Mauritania, Moldova, Montenegro, and Tajikistan.

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) will hold its 70th Ordinary Session from September 4 to 29. In recent sessions, the AfCHPR has been convening in person at its seat in Arusha, Tanzania. The Court livestreams delivery of newly-adopted judgments at the end of its sessions. Session details will be posted to the AfCHPR’s website.

European Committee of Social Rights

The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) will hold its 336th Session from September 11 to 15, at its headquarters in Strasbourg, France. The session agenda and synopsis will subsequently be available on the sessions webpage.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) will hold its 160th Regular Session from August 21 to September 8, in a hybrid format, and its 161st Regular Session from September 18 to 29. During its 160th Regular Session, the Court will deliberate privately in order to adopt its judgments in eight cases, which are summarized in the Court’s press release (Spanish only). In August, the Court held a public hearing concerning the case of Yangali Iparraguirre v. Peru, and held private hearings on implementation and provisional measures in other cases. The agenda for the 161st Regular Session is not yet available.

Human Rights Council

The UN Human Rights Council is holding its 54th session from September 11 to October 13, in person in Geneva, Switzerland. Among other activities, the draft programme of work and agenda indicate the Council will elect members of its Advisory Committee and appoint 12 special procedure mandate holders. The Council President’s list of proposed candidates and the applications of all candidates are available online.

The Council will also hold annual or biennial discussions related to integration of a gender perspective, the rights of Indigenous peoples, unilateral coercive measures, and youth and human rights, in addition to many interactive dialogues with mandate holders.

The Council is scheduled to adopt the outcome reports from the latest Universal Periodic Review cycle for Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Burundi, France, Israel, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mali, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Tonga, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Council will also consider various reports from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and numerous special procedure mandate holders. The documentation for the session is available online, and the public portions of the session will be webcast on UN Web TV.

UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies

Various UN treaty bodies will convene this month. The full schedule can be viewed on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Teamup Calendar. Treaty bodies’ public activities, including constructive dialogues held as part of State party reviews, will be webcast on UN Web TV.

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is holding its 29th Session, in person in Geneva, from August 14 to September 8. The Committee’s programme of work includes constructive dialogues with Andorra, Austria, Germany, Israel, Malawi, Mauritania, Mongolia, and Paraguay.

Committee on the Rights of the Child

The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) will hold its 94th Session, in person in Geneva, from September 4 to 22. The Committee’s programme of work includes constructive dialogues with Albania, Andorra, Dominican Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, and Togo, concerning their implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The CRC will additionally discuss Liechtenstein’s implementation of the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, and Togo’s implementation of the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict.

Committee on Enforced Disappearances

The Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) will hold its 25th Session, in person in Geneva, from September 11 to 29. The Committee’s programme of work includes constructive dialogues with Mauritania and Nigeria. The CED will adopt lists of issues for Samoa, Central African Republic, and Sri Lanka.

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) will hold its 74th Session, in person in Geneva, from September 25 to October 13. The Committee’s programme of work includes constructive dialogues with Armenia, Brazil, Chad, France, Qatar, and Palestine. The CESCR will consider the implementation of prior recommendations by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, and Latvia under its follow-up procedure.

Additional Information

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.

In June 2023, various regional and universal human rights bodies will hold sessions or hearings to continue their oversight and adjudication of human rights issues. 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 Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Inter-American Court of Human Rights will be in session. The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has not scheduled any hearings in June.

At the United Nations, the two human rights treaty bodies in session are the Human Rights Committee and Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture. Additionally, States parties to several UN human rights treaties will meet in New York to elect new members to the: Committee on Enforced Disappearances (on June 12), Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (on June 22), and the Committee on Migrant Workers (on June 27). The chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies are also holding their annual meeting in New York from May 29 to June 2, to discuss and advance their working methods and practices.

The UN special procedure mandate holders scheduled to carry out country visits in June include the Independent Expert on foreign debt, to Liechtenstein; and the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, to Malta.

Finally, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and special procedures have issued many calls for input with deadlines in June 2023, including for submissions related to: online hate speech, foreign investment and the right to a healthy environment, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances’ draft General Comment on enforced disappearances in the context of migration, internally displaced persons, the human rights of people of African descent, the right to development, national and local promotion of freedom of thought. Several mandate holders are also seeking inputs for upcoming visits to South Africa, Brazil, Japan, and Malta.

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) will hold its 69th Ordinary Session from June 12 to July 7. In recent sessions, the AfCHPR has been convening in person at its seat in Arusha, Tanzania. The Court livestreams delivery of newly-adopted judgments toward the end of its sessions. Session details will be posted to the AfCHPR’s website.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) will hold its 159th Regular Session from June 12 to 30. During its sessions, the Court holds public hearings in cases and deliberates in private. The agenda for the 159th Regular Session is not yet available. 

Human Rights Council

The UN Human Rights Council is holding its 53rd regular session from June 19 to July 14, in person in Geneva, Switzerland. Among other activities, the draft programme of work and agenda indicate the Council will appoint experts to special procedures and other mandates, including the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity, Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, and Special Rapporteur on counter terrorism and human rights. 

The Council is scheduled to adopt the outcome reports from the latest Universal Periodic Review cycle for Czechia, Argentina, Gabon, Ghana, Peru, Guatemala, Benin, South Korea, Switzerland, Pakistan, Zambia, Japan, and Sri Lanka.

The Council will also consider various reports from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and numerous special procedure mandate holders. The documentation for the session is available online, and the public portions of the session will be webcast on UN Web TV.

UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies

Various UN treaty bodies will convene this month. The full schedule can be viewed on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Teamup Calendar. Treaty bodies’ public activities, including constructive dialogues held as part of State party reviews, will be webcast on UN Web TV. 

Human Rights Committee

The Human Rights Committee will hold its 138th Session, in person in Geneva, from June 26 to July 26. The Committee’s programme of work includes constructive dialogues with Brazil, Burundi, Colombia, Cyprus, Lesotho, Somalia, the State of Palestine, and Uganda. It will adopt lists of issues for Honduras, Suriname, Jamaica, Moldova, and will consider the implementation of prior recommendations by Mexico, Niger, Portugal, and Senegal under its follow-up procedure. June 9 is the deadline to register for the briefings by civil society representatives to the Committee.

Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture

The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) will convene privately for its 50th Session, from June 5 to 16, in Geneva. On June 8, the SPT will hold a day of general discussion, in hybrid format, on its draft General Comment on Article 4 (obligations concerning preventive visits to “places of detention”) of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture.

Additional Information

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.  

In April 2023, 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 Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child will be in session, along with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. On April 12, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) will hold a hearing in the case of Communauté genevoise d’action syndicale (CGAS) v. Switzerland.

At the United Nations, the five human rights treaty bodies in session are those focused on: torture, racial discrimination, and migrant workers and their families. The Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development (EMRTD) will hold its 7th Session, in New York, from April 3 to 5. The UN special procedure mandate holders scheduled to carry out country visits in April include the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion, to Tajikistan; the Special Rapporteur on health, to Luxembourg; the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, to Botswana; the Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, to the United Kingdom; the Special Rapporteur on water and sanitation, to Syria; the Independent Expert on democratic international order, to Georgia.

Finally, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and special procedures have issued many calls for input with deadlines in April 2023, including for submissions related to: affordable housing, law enforcement equipment and torture, green financing and Indigenous peoples’ rights, voluntourism and exploitation of children, aquatic ecosystems and poverty, implementation of the program of activities of the International Decade for People of African Descent, human rights and cultural diversity, intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN, cultural rights and the governance of development, technology and contemporary slavery, elimination of racism, economic empowerment of people of African descent, practical tools for law enforcement in the context of peaceful protests, the draft General Comment on Article 4 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, and upcoming country visits to Somalia and Bangladesh.

African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) will hold its 41st Ordinary Session from April 26 to May 6, virtually. Attendees may register using the online form.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) will hold its 157th Regular Session from April 17 to 28. During its sessions, the Court holds public hearings in cases and deliberates in private. The agenda for the 157th Regular Session is not yet available. 

Human Rights Council

The UN Human Rights Council is holding its 52nd regular session from February 27 to April 4, in person in Geneva, Switzerland. Among other activities, the draft programme of work and agenda indicate the Council will appoint experts to special procedures and other mandates, including the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development, Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Special Rapporteur on the right to development, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia, Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, and Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. 

The Council is scheduled to adopt the outcome reports from the latest Universal Periodic Review cycle for Algeria, Bahrain, Brazil, Ecuador, Finland, India, Indonesia, Morocco, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, The Netherlands, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom.

The Council will also consider various reports from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and numerous special procedure mandate holders. The documentation for the session is available online, and the public portions of the session will be webcast on UN Web TV.

UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies

Various UN treaty bodies will convene this month. The full schedule can be viewed on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Teamup Calendar. Treaty bodies’ public activities, including constructive dialogues held as part of State party reviews, will be webcast on UN Web TV.

Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers

The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW) is holding its 36th Session from March 27 to April 6, in Geneva. During the session, it will hold constructive dialogues with El Salvador, Morocco, Nigeria, and the Philippines concerning their implementation of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. The CMW will adopt lists of issues prior to reporting for Niger and Seychelles. Its agenda also includes discussion of efforts to promote the Convention.

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) will hold its 109th Session, from April 11 to 28, in Geneva. According to its programme of work, the Committee will review Argentina, Niger, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, and Tajikistan concerning their implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. It will also meet informally with nongovernmental organizations and national human rights institutions, and hold other closed meetings.

Committee against Torture

The Committee against Torture (CAT) will hold its 76th Session, in Geneva, from April 17 to May 12, according to its provisional agenda. The Committee will review Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, and Slovakia concerning their implementation on the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The CAT will also adopt lists of issues for Burundi, Egypt, and Portugal to address in their reviews.

Additional Information

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.  

In March 2023, 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 human rights courts and commissions of Africa and the Americas will be in session in March, as will the European Committee of Social Rights. The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) will hold hearings in four pending cases this month.

At the United Nations, the five human rights treaty bodies in session are those focused on: civil and political rights; economic, social, and cultural rights; enforced disappearances; the rights of migrant workers; and the rights of persons with disabilities. The UN special procedure mandate holders scheduled to carry out country visits in March include the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, to Serbia.

Finally, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and special procedures have issued many calls for input with deadlines in March 2023, including for submissions related to: homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery, food and the right to health, maternal mortality and morbidity, glorification of Nazism, monitoring implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, access to medicines, deaths in custody, toxic impacts of some climate change solutions, poverty and aquatic ecosystems, financing of reparations for serious human rights violations, development finance institutions and human rights, abuse of older persons, and upcoming country visits to Chile, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom.

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) is holding its 74th Ordinary Session, virtually and in private, from February 21 to March 7. [ACHPR Press Release] During the session, the ACHPR will consider pending communications, resolutions, and reports. States and civil society will not take part in this private session.

African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) had planned to hold its 41st Ordinary Session from March 20 to 30, but has since announced via Twitter that the session has been postponed to a later date.

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) is holding its 68th Ordinary Session from February 20 to March 17 at its seat in Arusha, Tanzania. The Court has not publicly shared any additional information about this session. 

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) will hold its 186th Period of Sessions from March 6 to 10, in person, in Los Angeles, United States of America. [IACHR Press Release] On each day of the session, the IACHR will hold public hearings concerning pending cases and issues of concern, in accordance with the schedule of hearings. The hearings will be livestreamed on the IACHR’s YouTube channel and other social media accounts. On March 10, the IACHR will hold a meeting with civil society members on the human rights situation in the United States. 

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) will hold its 156th Regular Session from March 6 to 24. During its sessions, the Court holds public hearings in cases and deliberates in private. The agenda for the 156th Regular Session is not yet available. 

European Committee of Social Rights

The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) will hold its 333rd Session from March 20 to 24. The agenda is not yet online. A synopsis will be posted following the  session.

Human Rights Council

The UN Human Rights Council is holding its 52nd regular session from February 27 to April 4, in person, in Geneva, Switzerland. Among other activities, the draft programme of work and agenda indicate the Council will appoint experts to special procedures and other mandates, including the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development, Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Special Rapporteur on the right to development, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia, Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, and Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. 

The Council is scheduled to adopt the outcome reports from the latest Universal Periodic Review cycle for Algeria, Bahrain, Brazil, Ecuador, Finland, India, Indonesia, Morocco, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, The Netherlands, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom.

The Council will also consider various reports from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and numerous special procedure mandate holders. The documentation for the session is available online, and the public portions of the session will be webcast on UN Web TV.

UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies

Various UN treaty bodies will convene this month. The full schedule can be viewed on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Teamup Calendar. Treaty bodies’ public activities, including constructive dialogues held as part of State party reviews, will be webcast on UN Web TV.

Human Rights Committee

The Human Rights Committee is holding its 137th Session from February 27 to March 24. While the Committee will meet in Geneva, it will undertake some activities in hybrid (in-person and virtual) mode. The Committee will consider the reports of Egypt, Panama, Peru, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, and Zambia concerning their implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It will adopt lists of issues in response to the reports of Namibia, Serbia, and Syria, and will adopt a list of issues for Kazakhstan to address in its next report. Privately, the Committee will consider individual communications and adopt concluding observations on State party reviews. Other items in its programme of work include adopting its annual report and reporting on progress on follow-up to its concluding observations and decisions on individual communications.

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) is holding its 73rd Session, in person, from February 13 to March 3 in Geneva. During this session, the CESCR has held constructive dialogues with Cambodia, China, Lithuania, Panama, Portugal, and Yemen concerning their implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. On February 24, it held a day of general discussion on sustainable development. Among other items on its agenda, the Committee will elect officers and consider individual communications.

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) will hold its 28th Session, in person, from March 6 to 24 in Geneva. The CRPD will review Angola, Argentina, Georgia, Peru, Togo, and Tunisia concerning their implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Its agenda also includes swearing in newly-elected members and selecting its bureau.

Committee on Enforced Disappearances

The Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) will hold its 24th Session from March 20 to 31, in person, in Geneva. The CED will review Costa Rica and Zambia, and adopt lists of issues for its review of Benin, Malta, and Norway. Its programme of work also includes dialogues with Germany and Argentina concerning their reports on additional information.

Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers

The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW) will hold its 36th Session from March 27 to April 6, in Geneva. During the session, it will hold constructive dialogues with El Salvador, Morocco, Nigeria, and the Philippines concerning their implementation of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. The CMW will adopt lists of issues prior to reporting for Niger and Seychelles. Its agenda also includes discussion of efforts to promote the Convention.

Additional Information

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.