Human Rights Treaties
The promotion and protection of human rights is a primary objective of the United Nations Charter. Mine action bolsters the United Nations’ broader efforts to encourage compliance with international human rights norms and standards and foster the promotion, protection and realization of people’s rights.
There are six international human rights treaties relevant to mine action. Each has an international committee of independent experts who monitor implementation of treaty provisions and the legal obligations States assume once they become parties to the treaties. Treaty bodies consider States’ reports on progress in implementing treaties. These reports may include a description of measures taken to address the impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war on the rights of survivors. After a report is examined, “concluding observations,” or comments, are provided to States, offering practical advice and further steps to ensure the provision or protection of rights.
The human rights treaty database on this website is a tool for mine action practitioners. It lists treaty reporting obligations for States that are affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war and that have mine action programmes supported or managed by the United Nations.
The database lists the date of ratification of six human rights treaties, the date each country submitted its most recent report, the due date for the next report, links to reports that reference mine action or the impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war on the rights of survivors, and links to concluding observations or comments that reference mine action.
This database will help inform human rights advocacy and mine action aspects of reporting obligations. It alerts users to upcoming reporting opportunities. Additionally, the information in reports and the concluding observations may be useful in advocating for more resources from donors and national governments and for national legislative reform on mine action.
Use the drop-down menus below to search for all affected countries and their reporting obligations for a particular treaty or to search for a single country’s participation and requirements for all six human rights treaties on this database.
To learn more about reporting arrangements for various treaty bodies, contact Gabriele Russo, United Nations Mine Action Service, at russog@un.org.