International Human Rights and the International Human Rights System A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions The members of TMBs are elected for a term of four years, with half the number of members of each TMB being elected each two years. Each treaty contains its own provisions for election and for eligibility but in general TMB members should be persons of: • high moral character • recognized competence in the particular field of human rights.203 In addition, some treaties provide that in electing members to TMBs States parties should give consideration to: • acknowledged impartiality • equitable geographical distribution • representation of the different forms of civilization • representation of the principal legal systems. TMB membership varies from ten to 23 members. Each TMB meets for two or three sessions each year, each session being of two or three weeks. Treaty monitoring body meeting room. Photo by Benjamin Lee/Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions. 203 Article 28; ICCPR. Chapter 10: The treaty-based system: An overview | 65