The Geneva Human Rights Platform Accompanied the Adoption of a UN Statement on Illegal Intercountry Adoptions

4 October 2022

On 29 September 2022, two United Nations (UN) treaty bodies – the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED), –, three UN Special Rapporteurs – on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence, on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children and on Trafficking in Persons – and the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances have issued a Joint Statement on illegal intercountry adoptions.

In order to facilitate this joint process of adoption, the Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) in collaboration with the CRC and CED, organized two joint meetings in March and September 2022 as part of the GHRP Treaty Body Members Platform initiative.

‘We congratulate all the mechanisms involved in the drafting of this important new document, which promotes a human rights-based and gender-sensitive approach to preventing and eradicating illegal intercountry adoptions’ underlines Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

‘The Joint Statement does so by identifying the rights which are violated through illegal intercountry adoptions and by clarifying states’ obligations under international human rights law. It represents an excellent example of cooperation between UN treaty bodies and among UN human rights mechanisms, illustrating the cross-committee and systemic approach recently promoted within the 2020 Treaty Body Review process at the UN General Assembly’ he adds.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Human Rights Tiles News

From Signals to Action: Strengthening the UN's Conflict Prevention Efforts

31 March 2025

Our recent research brief series explores how the United Nations' human rights system can enhance its role in early warning and conflict prevention.

Read more

minorities News

Minority Rights in Russia, China, India, Egypt and Hungary Examined in New Research Brief

18 December 2024

Our latest research brief critically explores how, under the guise of national security, governments misuse laws and narratives to target minorities and suppress political opposition.

Read more

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Booklet Training

The International Human Rights Standards and System: Monitoring and Implementation Strategies at the National Level

7-11 July 2025

This training course will delve into the means and mechanisms through which national actors can best coordinate their human rights monitoring and implementation efforts, enabling them to strategically navigate the UN human rights system and use the various mechanisms available in their day-to-day work.

Read more

Open dump Training

Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

15-19 September 2025

Participants in this training course will gain practical insights into UN human rights mechanisms and their role in environmental protection and learn about how to address the interplay between international human rights and environmental law, and explore environmental litigation paths.

Read more

Neutrotechology Project

Neurotechnology and Human Rights

Started in August 2023

This project addresses the human rights implications stemming from the development of neurotechnology for commercial, non-therapeutic ends, and is based on a partnership between the Geneva Academy, the Geneva University Neurocentre and the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. 

Read more

Online folders Project

Digital Human Rights Tracking Tools and Databases

Started in March 2023

This initiative wishes to contribute to better and more coordinated implementation, reporting and follow-up of international human rights recommendations through a global study on digital human rights tracking tools and databases.

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

Briefing N° 25: Localizing Multilateralism

published on March 2025

Domenico Zipoli, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Kamelia Kemileva

Read more