By ratifying international agreements, countries make a commitment to their citizens. In this section, you will find a collection of WORLD maps, fact sheets, and infographics illustrating whether States parties to specific agreements are fulfilling their commitments through enacting national laws and policies. With these tools, citizens can monitor their countries’ progress and support effective change; policymakers can identify what kinds of reforms have been feasible in countries within the same region or income group; and researchers can examine the effectiveness of laws and policies on a global scale.
Comprehensive reports on individual countries submitted periodically as part of UN monitoring mechanisms provide valuable, in-depth information every few years. The information shared here is designed to serve as a complementary accountability tool, which visualizes countries’ policies in real time, compares efforts around the world, and sheds light on gaps and progress toward securing rights worldwide.