United Nations Treaty Bodies: 400 NGOs launch an urgent appeal

To:
All Permanent Missions to the United Nations in Geneva and New York
Cc:
UN Secretary General UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Chairpersons of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies Coordination Committee of UN Special Procedures
28 May 2019
Open NGO letter regarding the critical funding gap affecting UN human rights mechanisms and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights It is with a sense of urgency that we convey our deep concern regarding the critical funding situation affecting the UN’s human rights mechanisms and OHCHR. We understand that the combination of delays in payments of UN member states’ assessed contributions to the regular budget and the 25% cut to travel of UN representatives, including treaty body experts and Special Procedure mandate holders, and other budget cuts (2018-2019) may adversely impact on the capacity of various human rights mechanisms to carry out their mandates effectively.
In April, the Chairpersons of the 10 human rights treaty bodies were informed that due to the financial situation, the autumn 2019 sessions of six treaty bodies may need to be cancelled. 1 Not only is the cancellation of treaty body sessions deeply worrying as it may involve cancellation of reviews already scheduled and delay decisions on individual communications pending before the Committees but it also sends a troubling message ahead of the 2020 treaty body strengthening discussions. This unprecedented development would come as we celebrate the 30 th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 40 th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
We understand that other independent expert mechanisms such as the Special Procedures, and other mechanisms created by the Human Rights Council such as Fact-Finding Missions and Commissions of Inquiry, may also be hampered in carrying out their mandates to monitor and investigate human rights violations.
As of 10 May, only 44 UN member states had paid all their assessments due to the UN. We would like to commend Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Rwanda, Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sweden, Switzerland and Tuvalu for having done so. 2 98 member states had paid their regular budget assessments by 20 May 2019.
The failure to pay assessed contributions is only the latest in a worrying trend of shortfalls and cuts affecting the UN budget allocated to its human rights mechanisms. In the 2018-2019 budget the General Assembly made adjustments to reduce the resources for experts by 15 per cent, reduce the travel of representatives by 25 per cent, and reduce resources for travel of staff by 10 per cent 3 , all without taking into account the disproportionate effect these decisions would have on the UN’s human rights mechanism. Only 3.7 per cent of the total UN regular budget is currently allocated to OHCHR 4 . We are extremely concerned by reports that the funding gap may affect the functioning of OHCHR and the human rights mechanisms in 2020 and beyond.

Against the worrying background of a global pushback against the promotion and protection of human rights, we urge all UN member states to:
• Pay their assessed contributions without further delay, unless they have already done so, in order to assure the functioning of the UN’s human rights mechanisms.
• Prioritise securing adequate funding for the UN’s human rights pillar, with the promotion and protection of human rights being also indispensable to development, peace and security.
• Initiate, in due time ahead of the 2020-2021 budget negotiations, discussions on how to reverse the trend of reduced regular budget for OHCHR and assuring that the UN’s human rights mechanisms are not disproportionately affected by over-all cuts to the UN budget, including by restoring the budget allocation for travel of representatives for these mechanisms.

Signatories:
A 11 - Initiative for Economic and Social Rights
Abogados y abogadas del Noroeste argentino en derechos humanos y estudios sociales (Andhes)
ACADHOSHA (Action des Chrétiens Activistes des Droits de l'Homme à Shabunda)
ACAT
ACAT Belgium
ACAT Canada
ACAT Congo
ACAT Ghana
ACAT Italia
ACAT Luxembourg
ACAT Tchad
ACAT- Benin
ACAT- NIGER
ACAT-Brasil
ACAT-Burundi
ACAT-Cameroun
ACAT-France
ACAT-Switzerland
ACAT-USA
Action femme de valeur Action Jeunesse pour le Développement
Action on Child,
Early and Forced Marriage
ActionAid International
Activist
Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel
Addu women’s Association (AWA)
Adska ong
Advocacy for women in peace and securityAfrica
Afghan Women Network
Afghan Women News Agency Organization
Afghan women Skills Development Center
Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de l'Homme (AEDH)
Aid Organization Al-Zahraa: Organization for the Advancement of Women
Alhaq All Okinawa Council for Human Rights Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development
Alliance Globale contre les Mutilations Génitales Féminines
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Amnesty International ALQST for Human Rights Arab Women Network for Parity and Solidarity Articulación Feminista Marcosur ASEAN SOGIE Caucus Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body (AMCB-IMA) Asociace romskych predstavitelu Libereckeho kraje z.s.Asociación Ciudadana ACCEDER Asociación de Mujeres Afrodescendientes de Yolombo ASOMUAFROYO. Asociación de Mujeres Afrodescendientes del Norte del Cauca- ASOM Asociacion Tesai Reka Paraguay assiwar--the feminist arab movement Associace Romskych Rodicu z.s.Association "MARTA Centre"Association for Civil Rights in IsraelAssociation for Cultural and Media Activism QUEER SQUARE SkopjeAssociation for Emancipation, Solidarity and EqualityAssociation for thé Prevention of TortureAssociation for Women's Rights in Development (AWID)Association of Parents of Disappeared PersonsAssociation for Progressive Communications (APC)Association of War Affected WomenAssociation of Women for Action and ResearchASTRA-Anti trafficking actionATFDATTA LKERAUDFAvocats Sans Frontières FranceAwen Amenca z.s.Bahamas Crisis CentreBahrain Center for Human RightsBaidarieBairo Pite Clinic Lanud, Timor-LesteBalance Promoción para el Desarrollo y Juventud ACBetter World CampaignBeyond Beijing CommitteeBlind Women Association, Nepal (BWAN)Botswana Watch OrganizationBreakthrough TrustBridgebuilders TrustCairo Institute for Human Rights StudiesCambodian Center for Human Rights ("CCHR")Canadian Coalition for the Rights of ChildrenCanadian Feminist Alliance for International ActionCanadian HIV/AIDS Legal NetworkCBMCenter for Justice and International LawCenter for Legal Civic InitiativesCenter for Media, Data and Society, Central European UniversityCenter for Reproductive RightsCenter for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL)Centre Catholique International de GenèveCentre for Civil and Political RightsCentre for Indigenous Cultures of PeruCentre for Migration, Refugees and Belonging, The University of East LondonCentre for Social Concern and Development (CESOCODE)Centro de Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres (CEDEHM)Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas ACCentro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro JuárezCentro de derechos humanos pasó del NorteCentro de estudios de la mujerCentro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS)Child Rights International NetworkCHOICE for Youth and SexualityChurch of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International RelationsCIDEMCISCSACIVICUS: World Alliance for citizen participationCivil Rights DefendersCKLPCNRSCoalition Burkinabe des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (CBDDH)COALITION CEDEF ET LES ANGES DU CIELCoalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim SocietiesCoast Education Centre (COEC)COC NederlandColectiva Ciudad y Género acCollectif des Assoications Contre l'Impunité au Togo CACITCOLLECTIF DES AVOCATS POUR LA DEFENSE DES VICTIMES DES CRIMES DE DROITINTERNATIONAL COMMIS AUX BURUNDI CoMensha Comisión de Derechos Humanos - COMISEDH Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos Comité de América Latina y el Caribe para la Defensa de los Derechos de las Mujeres Comité Víctimas Lesa Humanidad y Graves Violaciones DDHH EcuadorCommittees for the defense of democracy freedoms and Human Rights in Syria(C.D.F) Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) Community Work Ireland Conectas Direitos Humanos CONGCOOP Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd Congrès Mondial Amazigh Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca A.C. Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the Americas Contra Nocendi International Cook Islands National Council of Women cooperation committee for Cambodia (CCC)Coordinadora de la Mujer Coordinadora Lesbica y de Hombres TransRepublika Libre Corte suprema de justicia
Cotidiano Mujer, Uruguay CROISADE-NIGER Czech Women's Lobby / Česká ženská lobby Dalit NGO Federation (DNF), Nepal Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies Darfur Network for monitoring and Documentation Defence for Children InternationalDefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) DejusticiaDemocracy Today Democratic Party, Hong Kong Director, Comparative Governance and Policy Research Cente, Department of Government & International Studies,Hong Kong Baptist University DIVA for Equality Dóchas Dominicans for Justice and Peace Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Dutch CEDAW Network Earthjustice Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives ECPAT France Edmund Rice International Education Coalition Equality Now European Center for Notfor-Profit LawEuropean Network of People of African Descent - ENPAD European Roma Rights Centre Fédération EuroMéditerranéenne contre les Disparitions Forcées FEMED Feminist Legal Clinic Inc. Femmes et Droits Humains FIACAT First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada FOKUS Fondazione Pangea onlus Foundation Ultimate Purpose FRANCISCANS INTERNATIONAL Freelance Fundación Arcoiris Fundación de Mujeres Luna Creciente Fuuse Gender Alliance for Development Centre Gender and SociologyGender Equality Network Geneva for Human Rights (GHR) Geten, Center for LGBTIQA People's Rights GIN-SSOGIEGlobal Detention Project Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Culural Rights Global Network of Sex Work ProjectsGQUAL CampaignGreek Helsinki Monitor
Groupe d'action pour les droits de la femmeGulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)Gypsy Cooperative UkGypsy CouncilHazte Visible A.C.HCLUHealth and Human Rights InfoHELP ResourcesHK Human Rights MonitorHonduras Forum SwitzerlandHong Kong UnisonHuman Rights AlertHuman Rights Center of AzerbaijanHuman Rights Comitteee, Norwegian Psychological AssociationHuman Rights Commission of PakistanHuman Rights Defenders Network-SLHuman Rights House FoundationHuman Rights in ChinaHuman Rights Law CentreHuman Rights WatchHumanists InternationalIBAHRIIDHEAS, Litigio Estratégico en Derechos Humanos-MéxicoILGA WorldILGA-EuropeIlsbIM Swedish Development PartnerIndependentIndependent MedicoLegal UnitIndigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflict Transformation(IMPACT)Iniciativa Mesoamericana de Defensoras de Derechos Humanos (IMDefensoras)İnsan Hakları Derneği / Human Rights Association - TurkeyInstituto de liderazgo Simone de Beauvoir ACInternational Action Network for Gender Equity & LawInternational Association for Human Rights Advocacy in GenevaInternational Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)International Commission of JuristsInternational Council of WomenInternational Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood CentersInternational Indigenous Women's ForumInternational Justice Resource CenterInternational Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)International Women's Rights Action Watch Asia PacificIntersex Human Rights Australiainvestigacion para el desarrolloIrish Council for Civil LibertiesJacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human RightsJammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil SocietyJANANEETHIJustice for Iran (JFI)Karapatan PhilippinesKenya Human Rights CommissionKlagsverband/Litigation Association of NGOs against discriminationLA VOIX DES SANS VOIX POUR LES DROITS DE L'HOMME (VSV)Las Reinas Chulas Cabaret Y Derechos Humanos ACLatvian Human Rights Committee (FIDH)League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI)Legal Resources CentreLigue Algerienne de Defense des Droits de l'HommeLIGUE DES DEFENSEURS REGIONAUXLutheran World FederationMADREMaharat FoundationMARUAHMasimanyane Women's Right's InternationalMASUMMEDITERRANEAN WOMEN MEDIATORS NETWORKMember of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous IssuesMENA Rights GroupMenEngage Global AllianceMinority Rights Group GreeceMinotenk minoritetspolitisk tenketankMongoliaMoroccan association for human rightsMovilización de Mujeres Negras por el Cuidado de Vida y los Territorios Ancestrales. Premio Goldman 2018Mujeres Transformando el MundoMusawahMuslim Women’s Network UKNational Council of Women New ZealandNATIONAL UNION OF DOMESTIC EMPLOYEESNational Women's Council of IrelandNauru Island Association of NGOsNGO Committe for CSW Latin America and the CaribbeanNGO Women for DevelopmentNGO-Coordination post Beijing SwitzerlandNoon Center for Women and Family IssuesNorth Wales Regional Equality NetworkNorwegian Centre against RacismNorwegian Helsinki CommitteeNorwegian Humanist AssociationOdhikar, BangladeshODRI intersectional rightsOkogun Odigie Safewomb International Foundation (OOSAIF)Omega Research FoundationOMODOrganisation Marocaine des Droits HumainsOslo Metropolitan University (Oslomet)ØstsameneOutRight Action InternationalOxfamPacific Partnerships on Gender, Climate Change and Sustainable Development (PPGCCSD) -RegionalPACIFICWINPAIMANPalestinian Center for development And Media Freedoms-MADAPartido Revolucionario FebreristaPARTNERSHIP FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH AND WELLBEINGPathFinders LimitedPeace Brigades InternationalPeace Foundation PakistanPeople's Watch - INDIAPhilippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates ( PAHRA)Piattaforma CEDAW Italia Lavori in corsaPlan InternationalPlataforma Internacional contra la ImpunidadPositive Women (Ukraine)Pro SentretProceso de Comunidades NegrasProject on Organizing, Development, Education and Research (PODER)Promo LEX Association, MoldovaPUBLIC COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE IN ISRAELRadha Paudel FoundationRCMDReacción ClimáticaReactor - Research in ActionREAMA Network network for the empowerment of women and self help supportREd de Educación Popular entre Mujesre REPEM -LACRed Nacional de Mujeres - ColombiaRed Nacional de Organismos Civiles de Derechos Humanos Todos los Derechos para Todas y Todos (conformada por 87 organizaciones de 23 entidades federativas de México)REDRESS TrustRescue Me-crime preventionRéseau International des Droits Humains (RIDH)RESPECT NetworkRFSL - The Swedish Federation for LGBTQ RightsRights for All Women Rivers without Boundaries International Coalition Roma Future z.s. ROMEA Saami Council Sayoni, Singapore Secretary Shah-Aiym Network Shirkat Gah Women's Resource Centre Sistren Theatre Collective SOLIDARITE FEMININE POUR LA PAIX ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT INTEGRAL, Ong Solidarity Netowork with Migrants Japan SOS Children's Villages International Spatium Libertas AC Spiralis z.s.STIR: Stop Institutional Racism Success Capital Organisation Swedish Muslims in Cooperation Network Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) Syrian Network for Human Rights Tafawuq Consulting Center for Development Tais Plus Taternes Landsforening TEDS Trust Teresian Association Terra Mater The Advocates for Human RightsThe Canada OPCAT Project The Egyptian initiative for personal rights (EIPR) The MiRA Resource Center for black, migrant and refugee women The MiRA Resource Center for black, migrant and refugee women in Norway The Negev Coexistence Forum The Norwegian Bar Association Human Rights Comittee The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions THE NORWEGIAN HUMAN RIGHTS FUND The Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara The Regional Diversity Roundtable The YP Foundation Think Young Women Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy TRIAL International Trócaire Tunisian Human Rights League UN Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) UNFPA Unidad de Protección a Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanas Guatemala United Nations Association of Norway University University of Kent
University Of The West Indies UPR Info US Human Rights Network Uthema Maldives Validity Foundation Mental Disability Advocacy Centre Vision Spring Initiatives Vzájemně soužití (Life Together) Wenshe Centre for Human Rights Education Wi’am Woman Inc (Woman Incorporated) Women Against Rape Inc.WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE Women and Media Collective Women Peace Network (32701) Women's Active Museum on War and Peace(WAM) Women's Human Rights Education Institute Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Women's Rights Center Women’s International Solutions for Equality (A WISE Network) Women ́s Link Worldwide World Organisation Against Torture XUMEK Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina YWCA Canadaجمعیة الحقوقیات المصریات