Civil society groups call for stronger digital participation in UN human rights system

A coalition of civil society organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, has submitted a joint response to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as part of preparations for the Secretary-General’s sixth biennial report on the status of the UN human rights treaty body system, mandated by UN General Assembly resolution 68/268. The submission assesses the challenges facing the treaty bodies and provides recommendations on how the UN human rights system can be strengthened. digital

While the document primarily addresses financial and operational pressures affecting treaty bodies, it also highlights the growing importance of digital technologies in enabling participation, transparency, and efficiency in human rights monitoring processes. digital

According to the submission, digitalisation offers significant potential to improve the work of treaty bodies and their engagement with stakeholders. However, the organisations warn that the UN system has not fully utilised digital tools, despite previous recognition of their benefits for accessibility and collaboration. digital

The report notes that online and hybrid participation mechanisms introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic have largely been discontinued, preventing civil society organisations from taking part virtually in treaty body sessions. This has particularly affected organisations based outside Geneva that lack the resources to travel, reducing the inclusiveness of the system. digital

The submission also points to ongoing efforts to introduce digital systems for submitting complaints, managing cases, and sharing documents within the treaty body framework. While these initiatives represent progress, the organisations argue that they remain incomplete and lack sufficient resources to be implemented fully. digital

To address these gaps, the coalition recommends expanding digital infrastructure across the treaty body system. Suggested measures include developing joint online platforms for document management and reporting, introducing translation tools, and ensuring that digital systems are accessible to persons with disabilities. digital

The organisations argue that stronger digital participation mechanisms would help ensure that civil society, victims of human rights violations, and other stakeholders can engage more effectively with the UN human rights system.