International Human Rights and the International Human Rights System A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions A replica of a treaty dating from 1269 B.C., the earliest peace treaty whose text is known to have survived, was presented to the United Nations by Turkey. UN Photo by R. Grunbaum. 4. THE CONTRIBUTION OF NHRIs NHRIs can be of great assistance to the TMBs in the performance of these functions.205 They can: • recommend and facilitate ratification of treaties and acceptance of the TMB complaints jurisdiction by their State • advocate for the incorporation of international and regional standards in domestic law and their application in policy and practice • monitor the State’s fulfilment of international human rights treaties under domestic law • provide TMBs with information to assist in the consideration of State reports and support the implementation of TMB recommendations arising from that consideration • contribute views and information to the other processes of the TMBs, for example, in relation to developing recommendations and comments on the interpretation of the treaties and to the general study or discussion days on critical issues. Currently, the status granted to NHRIs and the nature and scope of their participation in the work of the TMBs varies.206 Each TMB has its own rules and approach. Three committees have issued general comments on NHRIs: • the Committee on the Rights of the Child207 • the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights208 • the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.209 205 For an overview of NHRIs’ interaction with the TMBs, see Information note: NHRIs interaction with the UN Treaty Body System; National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section, OHCHR; 5 April 2011; see: http://nhri.ohchr.org/EN/IHRS/TreatyBodies/ Pages/default.aspx. 206 Information note: NHRIs interaction with the UN Treaty Body System; National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section, OHCHR; 5 April 2011; p. 5; see: http://nhri.ohchr.org/EN/IHRS/TreatyBodies/Pages/default.aspx. 207 General Comment 2; see: www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/docs/GC2_en.doc. 208 General Comment 10; see: www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/comments.htm. 209 General Comment 17; see: www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/4872085cc3178e3bc12563ee004beb99?Opendocument. 68 | Chapter 10: The treaty-based system: An overview