On 5 November 2025, CCIG was pleased to once again collaborate with Edmund Rice International (ERI) Network to deliver a training session on the UN Treaty Bodies for a group of civil society actors. The session was part of their ERI Training in Human Rights and International Advocacy, held at its Geneva office, and welcomed 12 participants from Saint Lucia, Spain, South Africa, India, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zambia, USA, and Colombia. This training aimed to strengthen the capacity of civil society actors in human rights advocacy within the UN system linked to the advocacy work they carry out in their respective  countries. 

Moderated by CCIG Secretary General Maria D’Onofrio, the session provided an overview of the structure of the UN Human Rights System and its Treaty Bodies. It also focused on clarifying key terminology and concepts essential for understanding the system and its mechanisms. In addition, the session offered information on the legal status of various UN conventions, as well as various opportunities and examples of how NGOs can engage with the treaty body system.

The session aimed to create an interactive learning environment, offering participants accessible and practical information  on how to use UN mechanisms in  their advocacy work. Throughout the training, participants were also encouraged to share their experiences, reflections and inquiries, which brought up interesting perspectives and insights.

CCIG welcomed once again the opportunity to deliver this session to empower civil society actors and is grateful to Edmund Rice International -a CCIG member- for the invitation. We look forward to continuing collaborating with our members and partners to empower local civil society actors to effectively engage with the UN human rights system.