Strengthening the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies

An Analysis of the Committees' Legal Powers and Possibilities for Reform

by Nils-Hendrik Grohmann

Book cover: Strengthening the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies

Extent: 330 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Law

Series: Jus Internationale et Europaeum

Series volume number: 202

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(March 2024)

ISBN: 9783161628252

9.09 x 6.06 inches

Price: $105.00

In stock

Within the still on-going strengthening process, the various UN treaty bodies can bring about lasting change on their own. This book shows that they are the ones who can introduce new powers using the interpretation of procedural provisions.


The UN human rights treaty bodies are still in need of reform, since past initiatives were not as successful as hoped. Therefore, to secure the effective dischargement of their various mandates, particularly under the reporting procedure, the Committees need to be reformers on their own. Nils-Hendrik Grohmann delineates the Committees’ powers from both a practical and theoretical perspective and demonstrates how far their legal mandates can reach. Effectiveness-orientated interpretation of procedural provisions that already endow the Committees with certain powers, allows for the extension of mandates. Thereby, the Committees can introduce new powers without State consent. In doing so, they are well-advised to approach the reporting procedure holistically, to develop coherent procedural approaches and to take into consideration the considerable overlap in terms of substantive provisions under the nine UN human rights treaties. Another key factor for reform is cooperation itself among the Committees, which increased in recent years through the Meeting of Chairpersons.

  • By (author) Nils-Hendrik Grohmann