Commonwealth Secretariat
  1. Human Rights Home
  2. Our Work
    1. Developing Best Practices
    2. Strengthening Human Rights Mechanisms
    3. Increasing Knowledge and Awareness
    4. Publications and Information
    5. Mainstreaming Human Rights
    6. Human Rights Unit
  3. Expert Groups
  4. News Archive
  5. Documents
    1. Commonwealth Conference of National Human Rights Institutions
    2. Human Rights Standards
    3. Human Rights Update
    4. Human Rights Poster
  6. Publications
  7. Links
    1. Significant International Human Rights Days
    2. National Human Rights Institutions
    3. Commonwealth Countries in Regional Organisations
  8. Contacts
  9. Archives

Expert Groups

ParticipantsExpert Groups

The Human Rights Unit has convened a number of Expert Groups to establish best practice in accordance with Commonwealth values and international human rights standards. Given that Commonwealth countries share a common legal heritage, the lessons drawn from experts sharing experiences and best practices serve well towards developing model legal and administrative frameworks through which Commonwealth members could address various issues of shared concern.

Reports and guidelines produced by the Expert Groups have been published and disseminated widely. They tackle issues such as national human rights institutions, human trafficking, freedom of expression, assembly and association and victims of crime.

National Human Rights Institutions

An expert group was convened in March 2001 by the Commonwealth Secretariat to consider the establishment and operation of national human rights institutions. The expert group considered all aspects of the processes involved in creating, appointing and administering national bodies to promote and protect human rights.

National Human Rights Institutions Best PracticeDownload a copy of the publication.

 

Strategies for Combatting Trafficking of Women and Children

The Human Rights Unit convened an expert group on unlawful trafficking of women and children in June 2002 to develop strategies to combat trafficking in accordance with international standards. These strategies invite practitioners to engage in a constructive dialogue on a gender and rights responsive paradigm on trafficking and to identify additional and alternative interventions that might enhance the efficacy of current interventions.

Trafficking of WomenDownload a copy of the publication.

 

Freedom of Expression, Association & Assembly

An expert group was convened in June 2002 to develop ‘Guidelines on Best Practice to Promote Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Association’. The publication offers guidelines and assistance to Commonwealth member states to give effect to their international obligations relevant to freedom of expression, assembly and association. It is based on minimum international standards and seeks to explore practical ways of converting and applying those standards at the national or domestic level.

Freedom of ExpressionDownload a copy of the publication.

 

Guidelines for the Treatment of Victims of Crime

In July 2002 an expert group was convened by the Human Right Unit to draw up ‘Best Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Victims of Crime’. The Guidelines describe what assistance and treatment that, as a minimum, victims of crime would expect from the criminal justice system, including the mandatory service standards expected of the criminal justice agencies and related government agencies.

Victims of CrimeDownload a copy of the publication.