Blog written by Berthe De Vos Neven, SI Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
From 2 to 6 June 2025, the 37th annual meeting of the Chairpersons of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies took place in Geneva, marking a critical moment for the global human rights system. These meetings bring together the leaders of the ten UN bodies responsible for monitoring the implementation of key international human rights treaties, from rights of children and persons with disabilities to the elimination of discrimination and torture. These treaties, signed by up to 196 Member States, include a voluntary commitment to submit progress reports for review on their implementation every four years or more. Moreover, this is one of the places where civil society is a true partner in the process and is allowed to voice the issues.
This year’s gathering occurred against the backdrop of a serious challenge: the ongoing liquidity crisis affecting the UN’s regular budget. This financial shortfall is directly impacting the ability of these bodies to carry out their mandates, such as reviewing countries’ compliance with treaties, engaging with civil society, and protecting individuals from violations. The Chairs raised the alarm on how these financial constraints are undermining the functioning of the treaty system and, by extension, the global human rights framework.
Furthermore, in addition to addressing the financial crisis, the Chairpersons reviewed progress made since their previous meeting and reaffirmed their commitment to the Addis Ababa Guidelines, a set of principles designed to safeguard the independence and impartiality of treaty body experts. They also revisited the San José Guidelines, which outline how to respond to intimidation and reprisals against individuals who cooperate with the treaty bodies, an issue that continues to be of grave concern. Various civil societies echoed these treats as being the new reality; an alarming number of cases were documented in the past year alone, underscoring the urgent need for stronger protective measures and more consistent follow-up by Member States and the international community.
The Chairs engaged in high-level consultations with a range of actors, including UN leadership, member states, regional organisations, civil society, and human rights experts. These dialogues are key to strengthening cooperation and finding joint solutions to the growing pressures on the human rights system.
Although the decisions and recommendations from the treaty bodies will soon be available online, uncertainty looms: due to budget constraints, many upcoming treaties’ body sessions remain unscheduled. Only a handful of meetings are confirmed, leaving the system’s future work in question. All treaty bodies with 3 sessions a year, such as CEDAW and CRC, have receive the message that their third session in the fall has been postponed.
In a time of rising global human rights challenges, the work of the treaty bodies remains indispensable. Sustained support, both political and financial, is urgently needed to ensure the treaty bodies can continue their essential oversight and protection roles. Hence, the alarming voices from both the Chairpersons as well as civil society.
