How are countries held accountable for breaches of international human rights law?

• The United Nations (UN) has a number of procedures to encourage country compliance with their treaties:
  • UN Human Rights Council’s special procedures including:
    • special rapporteurs (investigators);
    • independent experts; and
    • working groups;
  • reporting procedures where countries report directly to UN Committees;
  • country versus country complaints;
  • individual complaints against countries; and
  • criminal proceedings in the International Criminal Court.
• Not all of these mechanisms apply to all treaties. Each treaty will specify which methods can be utilised.
• You can use our Phone a Lawyer service for a preliminary legal consultation if you think you may need legal advice.