Parallel human rights proceedings before International Courts and monitoring bodies

The article examines the phenomenon of parallel proceedings before judicial and monitoring bodies. It addresses first the position of those bodies when confronted with parallel proceedings as well as the need for coordinating their action. Second, the main instruments of coordination are analysed, that is, coordination clauses, procedural rules of coordination, and techniques and rule for substan- tive coordination. The author maintains that, despite an increasing recourse to parallel proceedings also in the field of human rights, the need and chances for cooperation are reduced when a monitor- ing body is involved.