International Service for Human Rights

Time and again, members of the treaty bodies have affirmed the importance of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) input and actively encouraged the participation of NGOs in the work of the treaty bodies. Generally, NGOs working in the field of human rights can interact with the treaty bodies and do not require ECOSOC accreditation in order to do so. There are a number of ways in which NGOs and other civil society actors can have input into the work of the treaty bodies, in formally institutionalised ways as well as informally. Several of the treaty bodies, such as CESCR and CRC, have specific guidelines for NGO participation in their work.

In order to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them, NGOs should view their involvement in the relationship between treaty bodies and States in as constructive and non-adversarial a manner as possible, especially since this is how the treaty bodies themselves engage with States. Such an approach is more likely to yield tangible results by allowing genuine engagement with States and encouraging them to fulfill their human rights obligations.

For information on formal avenues for NGO participation, please refer to Chapter III of ISHR Simple Guide to Treaty Bodies.