A short wrap-up of our November discussion, facilitated by Hakijamii, is now available

In the November discussion facilitated by Pauline Vata from Hakijamii (Economic & Social Rights Centre), we explored how we can improve the use of indicators for effective country review by U.N. human rights treaty bodies. Sharing her reflection on the List of Issues (LOI) which was recently published by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in relation to the periodic reports of the Kenyan government, Pauline emphasized the need for more detailed follow-up questions to be contained in the LOI, as well as for a standardized indicator-based framework for critical and relevant disaggregated information on ESCR to be requested from and produced by states under review. It is important to note that, as CESCR moves towards a simplified reporting procedure, civil society engagement during the pre-sessional production of the LOIs (rather than at the actual review session, which is the more common approach currently) will become essential in ensuring concerns are taken up by the treaty body.

The rounds of questions and feedback further stressed the potential added value of indicator-based reporting compared to narrative-based reporting, and it was suggested that more advocacy could be exerted to encourage the treaty bodies to take up indicators and related approaches more consistently in their work. The role of civil society groups was also highlighted in identifying trends in policy changes and impacts (progress or regression) by tracking indicators over the reporting period, not only spotting pressing concerns of human rights at the time of country reviews. Once again, we sincerely thank Pauline for her blog and those who participated in this conversation.