Eight core international human rights treaties are in force. Each treaty has a committee of independent experts, known as a treaty body, that monitors implementation of its treaty. 

Every country that has signed and ratified a treaty must submit regular reports on the human rights situation in its country. This is an important opportunity for NGOs, nonprofits, and civil society to submit 'shadow reports' with additional information to the treaty body. Shadow reports are considered along with the government's report to the treaty body and highlight issues that the government may have overlooked or wanted to exclude.

The UN treaty body committees include:

The Committee on Human Rights (reviews implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (reviews implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (reviews implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

The Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (reviews implementation of the International Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women)

The Committee Against Torture (reviews implementation of the International Covenantion Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment)

The Committee on the Rights of the Child (reviews implementation of the International Covenant on the Rights of the Child)

The Committee on Migrant Workers (reviews implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Migrant Workers and All Members of their Families)

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (reviews implementation of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)