On November 8, 2023, the CCIG was invited to deliver a training session on the UN treaty bodies to 12 Civil Society representatives from Edmund Rice International (ERI) Network as well as 3 representatives from partner organizations, such as VIVAT International, Franciscans International and Trocaire Zimbabwe.  Overall, the 15 participants came from India, Zambia, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, Ghana and Kenya.

The training took place on the ERI premises in Geneva. It aimed to help participants situate themselves with respect to the articulated system of mechanisms set up by the United Nations for the promotion and protection of human rights, and more specifically the treaty-based bodies.

The training covered all aspects of this topic thoroughly, including the definition of a UN Treaty, the process of its ratification, the current treaties in place, and the duties of State Parties to fully implement those treaties. Windows of opportunity for Civil Society participation within the treaty body reporting cycle were another key aspect of the training. Participants were able to actively engage throughout the training by asking questions and sharing their own experiences.

Thanks to this training, local Civil Society actors from three different continents now have a better understanding of how to enact change within the UN Treaty Bodies system and directly apply the acquired skills in their daily advocacy work. It was also a chance for the CCIG to work toward its own goal of empowering  Civil Society to increase its impact in the fight for human rights at the international and local level.