United Kingdom: engaging with a parliamentary committee
to develop implementation strategies
In the United Kingdom, a Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights has been established to examine
matters relating to human rights within the UK. The Committee consists of 12 members, appointed from both the
House of Commons and the House of Lords. Part of its mandate is to review the Concluding Observations from
UN treaty bodies including the Committee against Torture, with relevant government officials and discuss steps
towards implementation of the recommendations. The Committee can also seek additional information from
other institutions and civil society organisations. Once the examination process has been completed the Joint
Committee publishes a detailed report including its assessment of priority areas for implementation. This can then
be used by the Government to develop its anti-torture strategies.
Uzbekistan: developing an implementation campaign and action plan
To assist with follow-up on its third State report to the Committee, Uzbekistan established a working group
composed of representatives of government bodies and NGOs to prepare and implement a national plan of
action. Uzbekistan also established a broad campaign to raise awareness of the outcome of the consideration
of the report. The Concluding Observations were translated into the Uzbek language and disseminated among
government bodies, NGOs, clubs and associations, and the media. The Concluding Observations were also widely
debated at meetings of parliamentary committees and the highest organs of the judiciary and law enforcement
agencies, national human rights institutions and civil society institutions.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
At the domestic level, the United Nations Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) offers
technical and capacity-building support to States in
many areas, including for those governments wishing to
establish standing national mechanisms for reporting,
implementation and follow-up. Much of the coordination
and reporting can now be done automatically using off-theshelf software developed by the OHCHR.
States can also seek additional support and guidance
on the reporting procedure and follow-up from the CTI
Secretariat, CTI Friends and partners.
TOOL: Reporting to the UN Committee against Torture
“
Particularly relevant have been the
incipient results observed through
the treaty body capacity building
programme, created as one of
the outcomes of the treaty body
strengthening process. Having specialized
colleagues on the ground through our
network of regional offices, has boosted
our capacities to support States in
meeting their reporting obligations
and widening their ratifications of
international human rights instruments.”
Ms. Kate Gilmore, Deputy High Commissioner
for Human Rights, to the Human Rights
Council, 34th session, under item 10,
on 23 March 2017
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