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United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library - Research
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| | HUMAN RIGHTS |  | | | | | |
 Introduction | |
Human rights are recognized as fundamental
by the United Nations and, as such, feature prominently in the Preamble
of the Charter of the
United Nations: "... to reaffirm faith in fundamental human
rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal
rights of men and women and of nations large and small...". One of the early acts of the General Assembly was to draft and adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (resolution 217 A of 10 December 1948).
As an indication of the continuing importance of this vast field, the General Assembly created the Human Rights Council in 2006. This new body is charged, inter alia, to review and improve the mechanisms of human rights monitoring; UN documentation related to human rights is evolving to reflect the new practices.
The Organization's prominent role in this area is carried out by a number of human rights bodies. When researching human rights issues, a distinction must be made between Charter-based and treaty-based
human rights bodies.
Charter-based bodies:
- derive their establishment from provisions contained in the Charter of the United Nations,
- hold broad human rights mandates,
- address an unlimited audience, and
- take action based on majority voting.
Treaty-based bodies:
- derive their existence from provisions contained in a specific legal instrument,
- hold more narrow mandates (i.e., the set of issues codified in the legal instrument involved),
- address a limited audience (i.e., only those countries that have ratified the legal instrument in question), and
- base their decision-making on consensus.
Reflecting this distinction, the human rights documentation posted on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner is organized into two databases: Charter-based bodies and Treaty bodies. A third database, the Universal Human Rights Index, provides access to human rights information by country, by rights, or by body.
By resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, the General Assembly created the post of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (www.ohchr.org) provides secretariat support for all UN human rights bodies.
- Each year the High Commissioner reports on the activities carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner; this report is issued as Supplement No. 36 to the Official Records of the General Assembly (e.g., A/63/36). A complete list of the annual reports, can be found in the UN-I-QUE
database.
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Statements made by the High Commissioner can be retrieved through the OHCHR
Media Centre.
- The Office of the High Commissioner also administers the
communications/complaints
procedures available under the various human rights bodies.
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| Charter-based
bodies | |
Human Rights Council The Human Rights Council was established by General Assembly
resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006. The Council meets at least three times
annually and reports to the General Assembly.
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Working documents are issued under the series
symbol A/HRC/-.
- Summary records of meetings are issued under
the series symbol A/HRC/[session]/SR.[meeting number] (e.g.,
A/HRC/6/SR.27:
summary record of the 27th meeting of the 6th session on 11 December 2007).
- The sessional reports are published as Supplement 53 to the Official Records of the General Assembly (e.g., A/63/53 + Add.1). They provide summaries of the work concluded and contain the texts of resolutions and decisions adopted by the Council. A complete list of the sessional reports (2006 onwards) can be found in the UN-I-QUE database.
- Resolutions and decisions are not released as separate documents in paper format but may be retrieved as individual items through the Charter-based bodies database.
- Full text documents of the Council are retrievable from the Charter-based bodies database, UNBISnet, and the Official Document System of the UN (ODS).
- UN Headquarters press releases for the Council,
issued under the series symbol HRC/-, are accessible
through the search option at the Press Releases website. Press releases from the Office of the High
Commissioner can be retrieved through the OHCHR Media Centre website.
The Council has responsibility for the special procedures originally established by the Commission on Human Rights. The special procedures include special rapporteurs, special representatives, independent experts, and working groups, that investigate, discuss, and report on specific
human rights issues under a country
mandate or thematic
mandate.
In addition, by General Assembly resolution resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, the Human Rights Council is mandated to undertake a universal periodic review of each state's fulfillment of its human rights obligations and commitments. The modalities of the universal periodic review were decided in the fifth session of the Council (see A/62/53). The Secretary-General has compiled guidelines on the form and content of reports to be submitted by States parties to the international human rights treaties (HRI/GEN/2/Rev.5, as at August 2008 only English, Russian and Spanish have been issued).
Commission on Human
Rights
The Commission
on Human Rights was established by Economic and Social Council resolution 5 (I) of 16 February 1946. The Commission met
in annual and, when required, special sessions and reported to the
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The Commission on Human Rights concluded its 62nd and final session on 27 Mar. 2006; its work is continued by the Human Rights Council.
The Commission had established special procedures: special rapporteurs, representatives or experts and working groups that investigated, discussed and reported on specific
human rights issues under a
country
mandate or thematic
mandate. A complete listing of these reports can be found in the
UN-I-QUE
database (e.g., reports on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions). The full text of recent reports can be retrieved from the Charter-based bodies database, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
Human Rights Council Advisory Committee
The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee was established by Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007; General Assembly resolution 62/219 of 22 December 2007, inter alia, endorses the decision of the Human Rights Council to adopt resolution 5/1 (see A/62/53).
This is a new body and the pattern of documentation has not yet been established. The Advisory Committee supercedes the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
Subcommission on the Promotion
and Protection of Human Rights The Subcommission
on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights was established
by the Commission on Human Rights under the authority of Economic and Social Council
resolution 9 (II) of 21 June 1946. The name was changed from
Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities by ECOSOC decision 1999/256 of 27 July 1999. The Subcommission
met in annual sessions from 1947 - 2006. Prior to 19 June 2006, the Subcommission reported to the Commission on Human Rights; its final report was submitted to the Human Rights Council. A complete listing of the
sessional reports (1947-2006) can be found in the UN-I-QUE
database. The work of the Subcommission is continued by the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee.
From 1947 to 19 June 2006, working documents were issued under the series symbol E/CN.4/Sub.2/-. The working documents of the final session were issued under the series symbol A/HRC/Sub.1/-. The full text of recent documents can be retrieved from the Charter-based bodies database, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
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From 1947 to 19 June 2006, summary records were issued under the series symbol E/CN.4/Sub.2/[year]/SR.[meeting number] (e.g., E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/SR.4:
summary record of the 4th meeting of the 53rd session on
1 August 2001). The summary records of the meetings of the final session were issued under the series symbol A/HRC/Sub.1/[session]/SR.[meeting number] (e.g., A/HRC/Sub.1/58/SR.1:
summary record of the 1st meeting of the 58th session on 7 August 2006; as at 30 July 2008 most of the summary records of these meetings have been issued in English only). The full text of recent meeting records can be retrieved from the Charter-based bodies database, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
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The sessional reports carried a double symbol (series E/CN.4/- and E/CN.4/Sub.2/-; e.g., E/CN.4/2006/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/44; the final report has the symbol A/HRC/2/2-A/HRC/Sub.1/58/36 + Corr.1).
They provide summaries of the work concluded and contain the
text of resolutions and decisions adopted by the Subcommission
(resolutions and decisions are not released as separate documents
in paper format but may be retrieved as individual items through
the Charter-based bodies database). A complete listing of these reports
(1947-2006) can be found in the UN-I-QUE
database. The full text of recent reports is retrievable from the Charter-based bodies database, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
UN Headquarters press releases for the Subcommission,
issued under the series symbol HR/CN/-, are accessible
through the search option at the Press Releases website. Press releases from the Office of the High
Commissioner can be retrieved through the OHCHR Media Centre website.
Reports were also presented to the Subcommission
by working
groups and special
rapporteurs. A complete listing of these reports can be found
in the UN-I-QUE
database (e.g., reports on contemporary forms of slavery). The full text of recent reports can be retrieved from the Charter-based bodies database, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
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| Treaty-based
bodies | |
Committee against Torture
The Committee
against Torture was established pursuant to Article 17 of
the Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment to supervise the implementation of the Convention.
The current
status of the Convention is posted on the website of the High
Commissioner. The Committee meets in two sessions each year in
Geneva.
States Parties to the Convention are required
by Article 19 to submit an initial report on the measures taken
to give effect to their undertakings under the Convention within
one year after its entry into force for the State Party concerned
and thereafter every four years. A complete listing of these reports
can be found in the UN-I-QUE
database (e.g., reports submitted by Canada). The full text of recent reports as well as report preparation
guidelines can be retrieved from the Treaty body database, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
Committee on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights
The Committee
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was established by Economic and Social Council
resolution 1985/17 to supervise the implementation of the
International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights but functions
like a treaty body. The current
status of the Covenant is posted on the website of the High Commissioner.
The Committee currently meets in three sessions each year in Geneva.
States Parties to the Covenant are required by Economic and Social Council
resolution 1988/4 to submit an initial report on the measures
they have adopted and the progress made in achieving the observance
of the rights recognized within the Covenant within two years
of its entry into force for the State Party concerned and thereafter
every five years. A complete listing of these reports can be found
in the UN-I-QUE
database (e.g., reports submitted by Denmark). The full text of recent reports as well as report preparation
guidelines can be retrieved from the Treaty body database, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
Committee on the Elimination
of Discrimination against Women
The Committee
on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was established
pursuant to Article 17 of the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
to supervise the implementation of the Convention. The current
status of the Convention is posted on the website of website of the High Commissioner. The Committee meets in two sessions each year. Beginning in 2008, the meetings are held in Geneva; previously all meetings were held in New York.
States Parties to the Convention are required
by Article 18 to submit an initial report on the legislative,
judicial, administrative or other measures which they have adopted
and which give effect to the provisions of the Convention within
one year after its entry into force for the State Party concerned
and thereafter every four years. A complete listing of these reports
can be found in the UN-I-QUE
database (e.g., reports submitted by Costa Rica). The full
text of recent reports as well as report preparation guidelines
can be retrieved from the website, the Treaty body database, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was established pursuant to Article 8 of the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
to supervise the implementation of the Convention. The current
status of the Convention is posted on the website of the High
Commissioner. The Committee meets in two sessions each year in
Geneva.
States Parties to the Convention are required
by Article 9 to submit an initial report on the legislative, judicial,
administrative or other measures which they have adopted and which
give effect to the provisions of the Convention within one year
after its entry into force for the State Party concerned and thereafter
every two years. A complete listing of these reports can be found
in the UN-I-QUE
database (e.g., reports submitted by Botswana). The full text of recent reports as well as report preparation
guidelines can be retrieved from the Treaty body database, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
The Committee
on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Worker and Members of Their Families was established pursuant to Article
72 of the Convention
on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families to supervise the implementation
of the Convention. The current
status of the Convention is posted on the website of the High
Commissioner. The Committee meets in Geneva.
States Parties to the Convention are required
by Article 73 to submit an initial report on measures adopted
which give effect to the rights recognized therein and on the
progress made on the enjoyment of those rights within one year
of its entry into force for the State Party concerned and thereafter
every five years. A complete listing of these reports can be found
in the UN-I-QUE
database (e.g., report submitted by Mali). The full text of recent reports as well as provisional guidelines on report preparation can be retrieved from the Treaty body database, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
Committee on the Rights of the Child
The Committee
on the Rights of the Child was established pursuant to Article
43 of the Convention
on the Rights of the Child to supervise the implementation
of the Convention. The current
status of the Convention is posted on the website of the High
Commissioner. The Committee meets in three sessions each year
in Geneva.
States Parties to the Convention are required
by Article 44 to submit an initial report on measures adopted
which give effect to the rights recognized therein and on the
progress made on the enjoyment of those rights within two years
of its entry into force for the State Party concerned and thereafter
every five years. A complete listing of these reports can be found
in the UN-I-QUE
database (e.g., reports submitted by Thailand). The full text of recent reports as well as report preparation
guidelines can be retrieved from the Treaty body database, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
Human Rights Committee
The Human
Rights Committee was established pursuant to Article 28 of
the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The current
status of the Covenant is posted on the website of the High Commissioner.
The Committee meets in three sessions each year in New York and
Geneva.
States Parties to the Covenant are required by
Article 40 to submit an initial report on the measures they have
adopted which give effect to the rights recognized within the
Covenant and on the progress made in the enjoyment of those rights
within one year of its entry into force for the State Party concerned
and thereafter every five years. A complete listing of these reports
can be found in the UN-I-QUE
database (e.g., reports submitted by Jordan). The full text of recent reports as well as report preparation
guidelines can be retrieved from the Treaty body database, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
The Committee also considers communications under
the Optional Protocol received from individuals who assert that
their rights (as enumerated in the Covenant) have been violated
without domestic redress. The texts of the Committee's final decisions
under the Protocol are included in its annual reports
(e.g., A/62/40 (Vol. II)), as well as periodically cumulated
on a selective basis.
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| Human
Rights Documentation | |
A more comprehensive listing of United Nations
documents and publications on human rights issues can be identified
through the UNBISnet database. UNBISnet provides links to the full text of recent documentation.
Subject terms which might prove useful in conducting a search
are: arbitrary detention; capital punishment; economic, social
and cultural rights; genocide; human rights in armed conflicts;
human rights violations; religious intolerance; right to development;
right to food; right to peace; torture and other cruel treatment;
war crimes; etc. Additional descriptors may be indentified through
the UNBIS
Thesaurus. Proper names (e.g., Declaration on a Culture of
Peace; Expert Seminar on Human Rights and Extreme Poverty) may
also be used for constructing subject searches.
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