Human Rights Bodies’ Hearings & Sessions:
July 2026

July 01, 2026
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(last updated July 6, 2026)

In July 2026, various universal and regional human rights bodies will assess States’ compliance with their human rights obligations through interactive dialogues, the consideration of State and civil society reports, country visits, the adoption of Universal Periodic Review outcomes, and where applicable, the consideration of pending applications and cases. At the United Nations (UN), one treaty body is scheduled to hold a session during which it will assess States’ treatment of individuals in detention. In addition, the UN Human Rights Council will conclude its 62nd regular session. Finally, one of the Human Rights Council’s special procedures has a session scheduled for July, and another will be concluding a country visit to Guatemala. At the regional level, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) will be in session this month. For more information on each of the bodies mentioned below, please visit the Human Rights Oversight section of the CGLJ Online Resource Hub.

The sessions and country visits taking place in July are listed in the first section below, titled Hearings, Sessions, and Country Visits. UN treaty body sessions may be watched via UN WebTV. The public hearings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) may be viewed via the IACtHR’s YouTube channel.

Additionally, in July and August NGOs and civil society actors will have a number of opportunities to submit written information to human rights bodies and mechanisms that are focused on specific countries or human rights issues. These opportunities are listed in the final section below, titled Calls for Input and Other Engagement Deadlines.

This post includes events occurring in July 2026, and submission deadlines for July and August 2026. For additional events and deadlines, please visit our Human Rights Calendar.

Hearings, Sessions, and Country Visits

United Nations

UN Treaty Bodies

In July, one UN treaty body is scheduled to hold a session. The full schedule of treaty body sessions can be viewed on the OHCHR Human Rights Mechanisms Calendar. The public activities of the treaty bodies, including constructive dialogues held as part of State party reviews, are webcast on UN WebTV. For information about in-person participation of civil society in the public activities of the treaty bodies, visit the UN’s Indico system.

Please note that several of the treaty body webpages currently warn that “due to the United Nations Regular Budget Liquidity Situation,” the agenda, dates, and modality for treaty body sessions may be subject to change. More information may be available by checking the UN’s Indico calendar or by contacting [email protected] via email.

Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture

The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) is scheduled to hold its 57th session from July 20 to 24, but these dates remain unconfirmed. The session page and the session’s Indico calendar page should be consulted for any additional documentation or stakeholder information that becomes available as the session dates draw nearer. All public meetings will also be webcast on UN Web TV.

UN General Assembly: Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council’s 62nd regular session, which began in Geneva on June 15, will conclude on July 7. The session page includes the draft programme of work and related documentation. Public meetings of the Council are generally webcast on UN Web TV. For information on accreditation and ways to participate in the Human Rights Council’s sessions, visit the Council’s page on NGO participation. Registration and media accreditation for the organizational meeting are handled through the Indico system.

The Human Rights Council has also decided to hold an urgent debate on the human rights situation in and around El Obeid, North Kordofan, in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The debate will take place on July 3 at 10:00 a.m. CEST.

Also in the context of the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council, the President of the Human Rights Council has announced that his meeting with NGOs will take place on Thursday, July 9 from 12:00 to 12:45 in Room XV. It will be an in-person meeting. This will be an informal conversation, with the main topic for discussion to be “Strengthening the Human Rights Council at 20”. The President is inviting attendees to share their views on how the Council can be strengthened going forward, but the meeting will also be an opportunity for NGOs to raise issues related to barriers to providing substantive inputs to the Human Rights Council.

Universal Periodic Review

During the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council, the Council is scheduled to adopt the outcomes of the 51st session of the Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), held in January 2026. The States whose outcomes are scheduled for adoption are Micronesia, Lebanon, Mauritania, Nauru, Rwanda, Nepal, Saint Lucia, Oman, Austria, Australia, Georgia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Sao Tome and Principe.

The documentation for each State’s review is available on the UPR section of the Human Rights Council’s website. NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC may be accredited to attend the plenary session as observers and, if inscribed on the speakers’ list, may make oral statements during the segment allocated for the adoption of UPR outcomes.

Special Procedures and Expert Mechanisms

In July, one of the UN Human Rights Council’s special procedures will conclude a country visit, and one will hold a session.

Please note that some of the UN special procedures have recently had to cancel or postpone country visits and sessions due to the ongoing liquidity crisis at the UN.

Regional Bodies

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) is scheduled to hold its 88th Ordinary Session in private and online, from July 21 to 30. As the session is private, the Commission has not announced public hearings or participation arrangements. Further information, including any updates to the session dates or agenda, may be available on the Commission’s sessions and events page closer to or during the session.

European Committee of Social Rights

The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) will hold its 356th Session from June 29 to July 3. The ECSR is expected to consider pending collective complaints, national reports submitted under the 2026 reporting cycle, and a draft report concerning Ireland’s non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter. The full agenda and synopsis of the session will be posted on the Committee’s webpage after the conclusion of the session.

Other European Human Rights Mechanisms

  • The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights will conduct a country visit to Bulgaria from June 29 to July 3. The visit will focus primarily on the human rights of older persons in residential care and will also address the human rights of Roma, with particular attention to housing rights.
  • The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading or Punishment (CPT) is expected to hold a plenary meeting in July. The Committee has indicated that it expects to adopt new standards concerning immigration detention and social care institutions during the meeting. The CPT has not yet published precise dates or participation information.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) will conclude its 192nd Ordinary Session, which runs from June 29 to July 3. The Court normally releases a press release with details on the session agenda closer to the start of the session. Public hearings of the Court may be viewed via livestream on the Court’s YouTube channel.

Calls for Input and Other Engagement Deadlines

United Nations

UN Treaty Bodies

Human Rights Committee

The Human Rights Committee is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) by its States parties. General Comments are authoritative interpretations issued by treaty bodies to clarify the scope and meaning of treaty provisions and the obligations of States parties. The Committee has issued a call for comments on its draft General Comment No. 38 on article 22 of the ICCPR, concerning the right to freedom of association. Deadline July 15.

In preparation for its 146th session, the Human Rights Committee is also accepting written contributions from NGOs and other civil society actors to inform the Committee’s follow-up consideration of Bolivia, Iraq, Luxembourg, and Uruguay. The session page includes guidance on how to submit information to the Committee. Deadline July 27.

Finally, also in preparation for its 146th session, the Human Rights Committee is accepting written contributions from NGOs and other civil society actors to inform the Committee’s adoption of lists of issues prior to reporting (LOIPR) for Bahrain, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, and Romania. The session page includes guidance on how to submit information to the Committee. Deadline August 24.

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

In preparation for its 118th session, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is accepting written contributions from NGOs and other civil society actors to inform its review of State reports from Finland, Honduras, India, and Kuwait. Deadline July 20.

Committee against Torture

In preparation for its 85th session, the Committee against Torture (CAT) is accepting written contributions from NGOs and other civil society actors to inform its adoption of lists of issues prior to reporting (LOIPR) for Costa Rica, Denmark, and Slovenia. Deadline July 24.

Committee on the Rights of the Child

At its 101st session, the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is scheduled to review Burkina Faso, Kazakhstan, Lesotho, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, the United Republic of Tanzania, and, subject to confirmation, Uganda. NGOs may submit additional information concerning these reviews by the new deadline of August 1. Submissions must be made through the new platform for alternative reports.

In preparation for its 103rd pre-sessional working group, the CRC is accepting alternative reports to inform its review of Sierra Leone, as well as its adoption of lists of issues for South Sudan (under the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict), Belize, and China (including Hong Kong and Macau); and lists of issues prior to reporting (LOIPR) for Australia, Barbados, Lebanon, and Trinidad and Tobago. Deadline August 1.

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has issued a call for input on two Draft General Comments on article 11 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, concerning situations of risk, including humanitarian emergencies. Deadline extended to August 3.

The CRPD has issued a second call for input on a Draft General Comment on article 29 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, concerning the right of persons with disabilities to participation in political and public life; Draft Guidelines on identifying and addressing intersectional discrimination against women and girls with disabilities; and Draft Guidelines on identifying and addressing disability-based violence. Deadline extended to August 3.

Finally, in preparation for its 35th session, the CRPD is also expected to accept written contributions from organizations of persons with disabilities, NGOs, and other civil society actors through the OHCHR events platform. The session is scheduled to consider State reports from Chile, Lithuania, Qatar, Slovakia, and Sri Lanka, lists of issues for Burundi, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, and Romania, lists of issues prior to reporting for Gabon and San Marino, and a list of issues in the absence of a report for Guinea. Deadline July 20.

Committee on Enforced Disappearances

In preparation for its 31st session, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) is accepting written contributions and requests for oral briefings in relation to first reports from Belize and Lesotho, and additional information concerning Armenia and Gabon. Deadline July 30.

UN General Assembly: Human Rights Council

In preparation for the 54th session, of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), OHCHR is accepting written submissions from NGOs, national human rights institutions, and other stakeholders concerning the reviews of Togo, Syrian Arab Republic, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Iceland, Zimbabwe, Lithuania, Uganda, Timor Leste, Republic of Moldova, Haiti, South Sudan, Myanmar, Sudan, and Ukraine. Deadline July 17.

Special Procedures

Investigative Bodies and Expert Mechanisms

  • The UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) will hold its 19th session in Geneva, Switzerland in July 2026. Those interested in participating in person must register through the UN’s Indico system by July 3. Individuals who are unable to participate in person may still watch the meetings via UN Web TV.
  • The UN Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development (EMRTD) has issued a call for input from diverse stakeholders regarding the role of peace and security as conditions for the full enjoyment of human rights and the right to development. Deadline July 15. The deadline for this call for input was originally in April 2026, but has now been extended.
  • The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine is seeking information and documentation, preferably by July 31, relevant to its investigation of alleged violations and abuses of human rights, violations of international humanitarian law, and related crimes in the context of the aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The call for submissions contains further instructions on how to share this information and identifies issues of particular interest to the Commission of Inquiry, including violations and crimes targeting children, recruitment of third-country nationals to serve in armed forces or weapon factories, and the impact of attacks on energy infrastructure on civilians.
  • The Fact-Finding Mission on the situation in North and South Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (OFFMK) has issued a call for submissions of information related to alleged human rights violations and abuses committed in the context of the latest and ongoing escalation of hostilities in January 2025 in the provinces of North and South Kivu. No deadline specified.
  • The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel (COI-OPT/Israel) has issued a broad call for submissions of information concerning acts of killing and causing serious bodily or mental harm committed by any State or non-State actor since October 7, 2023. No deadline is specified, but this information will be used for a report that will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2026 and to the UN General Assembly during its 81st Session in October 2026.
  • The UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar has issued a press release calling for all those who witnessed or have direct information about an airstrike on a boarding school complex in Thayat Tabin village, Kyauktaw Township in Rakhine State, on September 12, 2025 to please share their evidence. The press release contains further instructions on how to share information with the Mechanism. No deadline specified.
  • The UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar has issued a call for information calling for anyone who witnessed or has direct knowledge of the airstrike on Mrauk U General Hospital in Rakhine State on December 10, 2025 to please share their knowledge of the incident. The call for information contains instructions on how to share information with the Mechanism. No deadline specified.

Other UN Human Rights Bodies

  • The UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples is inviting representatives of Indigenous Peoples to apply for financial support to attend COP31 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Antalya, Türkiye and the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. Both events will happen in November 2026. Application deadline has been extended to July 12.
  • The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a call for inputs to inform the UN High Commissioner’s report on education as a tool to prevent racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 57/24. Deadline July 17.
  • Multiple UN mechanisms have issued a call for input on the Sumaúma Pledging Tree for Human Rights-Based Climate Action. Deadline July 31.
  • The OHCHR has issued a call for input to inform its substantive report on enhancing international cooperation and national efforts to facilitate the repatriation of illicit funds and ensure their effective use for sustainable development and the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. Deadline August 17.
  • The OHCHR has issued a call for inputs on the realization of economic, social and cultural rights in all countries, with a special focus on mobilizing public resources to finance sustainable development, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 58/9. Deadline August 20.

Regional Bodies

African Commission and Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

  • The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has issued a call for contributions on the draft African Guidelines on Promoting and Harnessing Data Access as a Tool for Advancing Human Rights and Sustainable Development in the Digital Age. The Commission invites input from States, national human rights institutions, civil society organisations, and other relevant stakeholders. Deadline July 14.
  • The ACHPR Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa has extended to July 20 the deadline for substantive input on the draft outline of a General Comment on the Right to Environment. Contributions may be submitted in English, French, or Portuguese; concise submissions of up to five pages are preferred. Deadline July 20.
  • The African Court, the African Commission, and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child have issued a call for papers for Volume 10 of the African Human Rights Yearbook. Topics include the African human rights system, the African Union’s 2026 water and sanitation theme, and case commentaries. Deadline July 31.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

  • The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) welcomes registrations for participation in the dialogue with civil society that will take place on August 7, during the 196th Period of Sessions. Registration deadline July 10.
  • The IACHR Special Rapporteur on Economic Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights (REDESCA) has issued a call for contributions to a thematic report on illegal gold mining, territory, and its impacts on economic, social, cultural and environmental rights in the Americas. Deadline July 15.