C. United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms structure

Within the United Nations (UN) system, there are treaty-based and charter-based human rights monitoring mechanisms. The treaty-based bodies, reporting to the Economic and Social Council, consist of ten independent expert committees, monitoring the implementation of international human rights treaties. The charter-based bodies include the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Special Procedures of the UNHRC (independent human rights experts, including the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples)[1], the Universal Periodic Review and Independent Investigations.[2] The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples submits annual thematic studies and annual reports to the UNHRC.[3]

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council.[4]

Footnotes

[1]United Nations (UN) 2022, Directory of Special Procedures Mandate Holders, viewed 22 May 2023, https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/procedural-documents/directory-special-procedures-mandate-holders, pages 3–4.

[2]UN 2023, ‘Instruments & mechanisms’, viewed 22 May 2023, https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms.

[3]UN 2023, ‘Annual reports: Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’, viewed 22May 2023, https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-on-indigenous-peoples/annual-reports.

[4]UN n.d., ‘Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues’, viewed 22 May 2023, https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/about-us/permanent-forum-on-indigenous-issues.html.