The human rights treaty bodies are committees of independent experts that monitor implementation of the core international human rights treaties. Each State party to a treaty has an obligation to take steps to ensure that everyone in the State can enjoy the rights set out in the treaty.

There are ten human rights treaty bodies composed of independent experts of recognized competence in human rights, who are nominated and elected for fixed renewable terms of four years by State parties

The special procedures of the Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. They are non-paid and elected for 3-year mandates that can be reconducted for another three years.

With the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), special procedures:
 

​Reference materials give researchers and human rights law practitioners access to key human rights instruments and other essential information. These materials also include jurisprudence from human rights treaty bodies.

Special Issues explore selected subjects in greater depth. The subjects are chosen in the light of their topicality, urgency and recent developments that have led to a change of perspective or emphasis. ​