The Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research developed a short pamphlet on “Understanding the United Nations Human Rights System” as part of a project focused on capacity-building for families of the disappeared and journalists in the North-East. The booklet is available in Tamil and English by contacting ACPR at info@adayaalam.org.
Table of Contents
What is the United Nations?………………………………………… 1
Structure of UN Human Rights System……………………….. 2
Understanding the Different UN Bodies………………………. 3
- UN Security Council………………………………………………….. 3
– UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court (ICC) 3
- UN General Assembly……………………………………………….. 4
– Third Committee…………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
- UN Human Rights Council…………………………………………. 5
– Universal Periodic Review………………………………………………………………….. 6
– Special Procedures…………………………………………………………………………………. 6
- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights……. 7
- Treaty Bodies………………………………………………………….. 8
Committee on Enforced Disappearances………………………………………. 8
History of UN Human Rights Council Resolutions and Sri Lanka 10
Brief History of UN Visits to Sri Lanka Post-2009……. 12
Understanding the Structure of the UN in Sri Lanka…. 14
Resident Coordinator’s Office…………………………………….. 14
Resident Agencies…………………………………………………….. 14
In summary: How can Families of the Disappeared advocate to the UN? 15
– To the UN Human Rights Council………………………………… 15
– To the UN General Assembly………………………………………. 15