Human Rights

The Cannabis Embassy coordinates action at the United Nations Human Rights system:

• The Office of the High Commissionner (OHCHR) is the principal United Nations entity mandated to promote and protect human rights globally. It provides secretariat & technical support to all Human Rights bodies and mechanisms. It also advises States on implementing international human rights law.
• Human Rights Council (HRC) is the inter-governmental body on Human Rights within the UN system; it addresses situations of human rights violations and can make recommendations and reports.
• The Human Rights Treaty Bodies are composed of independent experts who monitor States’ compliance with international human rights treaties. Each body monitors one treaty. For Cannabis-related human rights violations concern mainly the Human Rights Commission on civil and political rights (ICCPR treaty) and the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR treaty) (see treaties’ acronyms below, underneath the table). Treaty bodies can receive shadow reports, consider individual communications, and issue general comments or other forms of reports furthering the understanding and advancement of specific rights.
• Special Procedures refer to independent experts appointed by the HRC to examine thematic or country-specific human rights issues, including Special Rapporteurs.

The Human Rights Council holds three regular sessions annually in Geneva, while Treaty Bodies meet periodically throughout the year. Special Procedures report to the Council and the General Assembly, and carry out country visits, issue communications to States, and publish thematic reports relevant to our mission.