Easier Said Than Done (ESTD) Report based on the 39th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

The 'Easier Said Than Done' (ESTD) report is a part of the series started in 2008 by CHRI's International Advocacy and Programming (IAP) team to review the voting patterns of Commonwealth member states at the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva. It provides a basis for evaluating their engagement with the Council and examines whether their voting behaviour in support of resolutions is consistent with their voluntary pledges and commitments they made to the HRC.

This ESTD report summarises and presents an analysis of the performance of the following seven Commonwealth member states during the Council’s 39th session: Australia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa and the United Kingdom. It highlights the disparities between human rights promises made by members and their implementation at national levels. Overall, the ESTD series seeks to bridge gaps between international human rights systems and local landscapes at the country level.

The series seeks to present a clear picture of the activities of Commonwealth member states in the HRC and track thematic developments there, along with shifts in foreign policy approaches of member states on rights issues. The report aims to highlight institutional and human rights concerns in the HRC and explain discrepancies in the behaviour of the member state. It calls for greater accountability so that members act in accordance with their pledges and commitments.

You can read more about the IAP team's work in observing the Commonwealth at the Human Rights Council here.

Read the report below: