MEMORANDUM to the UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE OR COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE

Description

You represent the non-governmental organization Human Rights International (HRI). Prior to traveling to Geneva, where you plan to attend the XXIII session of either the United Nations Human Rights Committee or the United Nations Committee against Torture, you submit a Memorandum to one of the Committees detailing serious violations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) or the Convention against Torture (CAT). The Memorandum, which should range around 1200-1700 words, should inform the members of the Committee of a serious violation or violations by a State Party under one of the two treaties and contain recommendations on what the Committee should urge the State Party to do to remedy the violations of international law under the given treaty. In concise prose that uses the active voice and avoids generalization, describe for the Committee the facts of the alleged violations, apply the facts to the language of the Article(s)of your chosen treaty, and then recommend specific actions and/or policies that the members of the Committee should urge the State Party to take. Aim to complete a draft of your assignment early and take an additional day to do a close edit of the language of the memorandum before submitting. Please ensure that your citations are Chicago-style (drop-down at bottom of page), mirror the style in HRW documents AND that you also submit a Works Cited Page. 

Follow the format you see in terms of structure, sub-headings, and citations that you see in dozens of Submissions to the UN Human Rights Committee or Submission to the UN Committee against Torture that you see on www.hrw.org. I have included several additional ones here and in the KEY ASSIGNMENTS link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tELRxg-ugXbflyzGwktJZpuj0t1niQjX/edit

Remember the role you are playing in this memo. You represent a non-governmental organization which presumably does its own research. When you present facts and information try your best to cite primary news resources rather than the press releases or reports of your “competitor” organizations such as HRW. Some limited citations are allowed, but I want you to avoid using the evidence collection or narrative style of another organization in the way you construct your information.

Use sub-headings. Think about presenting the violation of one article to the ICCPR or CAT in each section.

In your sub-section, introduce the facts that describe the violation, mention the relevant article of the treaty at issue, present a discussion or analysis of how these actions by the relevant government or authorities violate that rule, and then make a quick conclusion. In some cases, your analysis should go further, and cite the argument’s attempt to justify its actions. But then you can rebut that argument and move on to your conclusion. Almost every citizen should have a citation.

In the entire memorandum, avoid using phrases like “I believe,” “In my opinion,” or emotional phrases like “it is outrageous!” Stick as close as possible to a narrative, journalistic style where active voice is felt throughout.

Include citations in the style you on HRW.org, which is Chicago style.

Include a Works Cited page at the end

1. Important: Do not forget the final section: RECOMMENDATIONS. Develop 3-5 of your own recommendations on what the Committee should urge the State Party to do. Feel free to be creative. Think about the laws that should be amended, the persons released, the compensation to be provided or the access to lawyers or loved ones… Lots of possibilities here and opportunities to be creative.

Also, ask yourself whether the Committee in the past has issued a specific opinion on the right you are looking at. You might want to cite to it for additional support in the course of your analysis. For example, on reproductive rights, you may cite to this ruling: https://opiniojuris.org/2019/03/06/the-un-human-rights-committees-general-comment-36-on-the-right-to-life-and-the-right-to-abortion/