The TB-Net - NGO Network on UN Treaty Bodies, from which the International Disability Alliance is an active member, organised the event “Promoting quality, independence and diversity of treaty body membership: the importance of transparent and participatory nominations and election processes,” held 2 November, in at the United Nations Office Geneva in Palais de Nations. The event was co-sponsored by the permanent Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria, New Zealand and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as by Amnesty International, the Association for the Prevention of Torture, the International Rehabilitation Council for Victims of Torture and the International Service for Human Rights, to which we reiterate our appreciation for supporting this event.
This event brought together representatives from States` Permanent Missions in Geneva, UN Treaty Bodies´ members, representatives and staff from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and representatives from other Civil Society Organisations, to discuss on the need for improving current practices of nomination of candidates at the national level and elections at the international level of treaty bodies´ members, to promote quality, independence and diversity of treaty body membership. The panel included Mr Mr. Ibrahim Salama, Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Gladys Acosta Vargas, CEDAW member, Mr. Bamariam Koita, Human Rights Committee member, Ms. Theresia Degener, Chair of the CRPD Committee, Mr. Bob Last, Representative of the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Mr. Yehualashet Mekonen, African Child Policy Forum.
Silvia Quan, IDA's Senior Advisor on Human Rights, intervened from the floor and positively highlighted the fact that CRPD Committee members are persons with disabilities themselves, but also stressed that other UN Treaty Bodies should include qualified persons with disabilities in their membership. Furthermore, she pointed out the practice developed in past elections by IDA, and other partners NGOs, to encourage nominated candidates to provide more information on their profile through completing a questionnaire and to make it publicly available online for interested States and other stakeholders. Finally, she stressed the need to consider all the aspects of independence, including independence from the private sector and business corporations.
IDA, as part of TB-Net, will continue advocating for better nomination and elections procedures for all TB Elections and for increase civil society engagement, in particular close involvement and active engagement of persons with disabilities, through their representatives organisations, in connection with CRPD Committee elections. Please remain in the loop for further initiatives in the lead up to next year Treaty Bodies elections.
For more information, on TB-Net and on the event held on 2 Nov, please check the following:
- tbnet_-_event_on_tb_elections_-_concept_note_final (English, doc, 1.99 MB)
- tbnet_event_2november2017_flyer_final (English, pdf, 313.43 KB)
- tbnet_event_2november2017_flyer_final (English, pdf, 313.43 KB)Recording of the event available online / Recording of International sign
- IDA´s Twitter
- TB-Net Twitter
For more information on 2018 CRPD Committee elections, please check the following:
