Implementation
As part of our overarching focus on implementation, the HRIC works with various human rights bodies at all levels to consider how to develop and strengthen mechanisms and practice that encourage implementation at the domestic level. Through its research and work the HRIC also considers how and why States comply with and implement their human rights obligations under international and regional human rights treaties.
The HRIC’s core activities in relation to implementation include:
- conducting research aimed at identifying factors and practice that can strengthen implementation of human rights
- working with and providing advice to regional and international human rights bodies, governments, national human rights institutions and civil society organisations to develop policies, practices and procedures that facilitate implementation
- providing expert submissions to international and regional processes aimed at developing standards or interpreting existing standards
- providing input to strengthen national efforts on the implementation of human rights such as the development of national legislation or the establishment of mechanisms or procedures to aid implementation
The HRIC’s work on implementation includes:
- The ESRC Human Rights Law Implementation Project (HRLIP), started in September 2015 and examined the factors which impact on human rights law implementation by nine states across Europe, Africa and Americas
- AHRC Implementation of Human Rights Standards on Torture
- The Implementation of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT) Project grant and work
- HRIC has partnered with the Universal Rights Group and the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law to collate information on the institutions that states establish to monitor implementation of supranational bodies’ decisions
- Study on the Impact of the United Nations Human Rights Treaties on the Domestic Level
- Online training resources for government officials on implementation of human rights
- In September 2011 the HRIC hosted a conference which brought together international experts from the UN treaty bodies, OHCHR, governments, NHRIs and Civil Society to consider specifically 'Implementation of UN Treaty Body Concluding Observations: The Role of National and Regional Mechanisms in Europe'. The outcome of this Conference has been included on the OHCHR’s website on its work on the Treaty Body Strengthening Process.
- HRIC staff have been involved in the Dublin II process on Treaty Body Strengthening, attending regular meetings throughout the process.