Submissions to the UN

How to make a submission

The UNCRC

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child monitors states' compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. As such it is the main UN body with the most direct interest in institutional child abuse and other abuses of children's rights.

The UNHRC

The UN Human Rights Council addresses human rights-related situations in all UN member states. The Committee conducts the Universal Periodic Review of states, which look at their compliance with all areas of international human rights law

The UNCAT

The UN Committee Against Torture monitors states' compliance with the UN Convention Against Torture. Some forms of institutional abuse of children's rights may fall in their purview, including child abuse, non-consensual religious surgery and forced pregnancy/

The UNCEDAW

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, monitors states' compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Many religious abuses of human rights have a distinct gendered dimension.

Upcoming opportunities to make a submission

Session information for human rights treaties are found under each of their respective web pages. The calendars are not always published that far in advance, so it is a good idea to check here every 3 months. or use the links below.

Calendars for and information on sessions of UN committees can be found on the Treaty Body Database.

• UNCRC (Committee on the Rights of the Child)
• UNCAT (Committee Against Torture)
• UNHRC (Human Rights Council)
• UNCEDAW (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women)

You can also browse the calendar for upcoming submissions of, and information on, different countries. E.g.:

• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Ireland
• The United States of America
• The Holy See
• Saudi Arabia

In general, dates for submission of NGO information on a country is about six weeks before the start of the respective session (but this deadline may vary between committees).