National implementation of human rights: Global survey of State implementation systems and processes

The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, the Universal Rights Group, the University of Bristol and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are starting a new project to conduct, for the first time, a global survey to understand the systems and processes that States have put in place to implement their international human rights commitments.

There is a significant burden on States to report to all relevant human rights bodies and to follow-up and implement their many decisions and recommendations. Some countries have, therefore, created national mechanisms for reporting, follow-up and implementation (NMIRFs) to centralise and coordinate these processes, and to translate international norms and recommendations into domestic reality.

This project will focus on decisions and recommendations emanating from three UN mechanisms: the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Treaty Bodies and the Special Procedures. The aim is to produce an overview of existing systems and processes, and to distil best practice with a view to strengthening national implementation of human rights.

The implementation of human rights is a priority Rule of Law issue. Better national implementation of human rights will improve the lives of individuals and groups around the world, and will support the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Project team

Murray Hunt  and Lucy Moxham  at the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law.

Leading experts Marc Limon, Executive Director of the Universal Rights Group  and Professor Rachel Murray, Director of the Human Rights Implementation Centre (HRIC) at the University of Bristol.

We are also grateful to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for providing pro bono research support for this project.