Using International Human Rights Mechanisms and Other Related United Nations Procedures
An excellent starting point for gathering information on how to use UN system to defend human rights is the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Communications/Complaints Procedure.
- United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- United Nations Human Rights Committee
- 1503 Procedure
- International Labour Organisation
- Committee on Freedom of Association receives and reviews complaints alleging violations of the right to freedom of association.
- Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- United Nations Committee Against Torture
- United Nations Centre for Human Settlements
The Project Stakeholders Oppose World Bank ESC Rights Violations Case Summary illustrates how one group filed an ESC rights-concerned petition before the World Bank Independent Inspection Panel.
- African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
- African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Decision on Communication 155/96 The Social and Economic Rights Action Center and the Center for Economic and Social Rights / Nigeria Case Summary
- American Court of Human Rights
The Chassagnou and Others v. France Case Summary illustrates how human rights defenders using the ESC rights approach petitioned the European Court of Human Rights. An additional further resource on this topic is Information for persons wishing to apply to the European Court of Human Rights.
The Amilcar Menéndez, Juan Manuel Caride y otros Case Summary illustrates how human rights defenders using the ESC rights approach petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
- National Human Rights Commissions
- United Nations Conference on Environment and Development Working Groups, Independent Experts and Special Rapporteurs
- United Nations Economic and Social Council
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
- World Health Organization
- World Food Conference
- World Assembly on Aging at Vienna
- United Nations General Assembly
- European Union
- African Union
- UNAIDS
- United Nations Environment Programme
- United Nations Habitat
- Council of Europe
- Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
- United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
- World Intellectual Property Organization
- UNICEF
- Committee of Ministers to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
- Committee of Experts to the European Charter for Region or Minority Languages
- European Committee for the Prevention of Torture
- European Committee of Social Rights
- Committee of Experts on the Applications of Conventions and Recommendations
- Commission on the Status of Women