Updated Working Paper – Human Rights Law Sources: UN Pronouncements on Extra-Territorial Obligations

Extra-territorial obligations (ETOs) are increasingly recognized as essential to ensuring a global framework built on human rights.  As a consequence, civil society is demanding that ETOs be applied through human rights monitoring, enforcement, accountability and remedial mechanisms, resulting in a growing body of pronouncements enforcing ETOs in practice.

This Working Paper, updated July 2018, outlines the application of extra-territorial obligations (ETOs) by United Nations mechanisms, including the Concluding Observations of Treaty Bodies, General Comments and Recommendations adopted by Treaty Bodies, and within the work of UN Special Procedures including Special Rapporteurs and Independent Experts appointed by the Human Rights Council.  As such, it provides a current understanding of how ETOs are monitored and enforced by UN human rights mechanisms.

Updates include recent CEDAW Concluding Observations on Australia, including in the context of climate change.

The Working Paper is available HERE.