A United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: The Decline and Fall of an Initiative

1973 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 40-64
Author(s):  
R. St. J. MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
United Nations ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
United Nations High Commissioner ◽  
Social Council ◽  
High Commissioner ◽  
Nations Programme ◽  
United Nations Programme ◽  
Fundamental Freedoms ◽  
Protection Of Human Rights

In 1967 the Yearbook published a comment by me on ECOSOC Resolution 1237 (XLII) of June 6, 1967. In that resolution the Economic and Social Council recommended to the General Assembly the creation of the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The comment referred to concluded with the opinion that Resolution 1237 (XLII) provided an adequate basis on which the General Assembly might appropriately proceed to establish the Office; it expressed the view that this resolution would eventually be adopted and that the proposed High Commissioner would become an important personality in the United Nations programme for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

1967 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 84-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. St.J. MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
United Nations ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
United Nations High Commissioner ◽  
United Nations General ◽  
Social Council ◽  
High Commissioner ◽  
United Nations General Assembly ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
First Session

By Resolution 2062 (XX) of December 16, 1965, the United Nations General Assembly requested the Economic and Social Council to transmit to the Commission on Human Rights a proposal by Costa Rica to create the post of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, so that the Commission might study the matter and report on it to the General Assembly at its twenty-first session in 1966. The Commission on Human Rights considered the item in March 1966, and by resolution 4 (XXII) established a Working Group comprising nine members of the Commission to study the proposed institution and to report to the Commission at its twenty-third session in 1967. The item was not taken up by the Third Committee during the Assembly’s twenty-first session in 1966, partly because background studies on the subject had not been completed, and partly because the Committee had allocated most of its time to the task of completing measures of implementation for the two International Covenants on Human Rights.

5. The United Nations—organizational structure

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhona K. M. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Organizational Structure ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
International Court Of Justice ◽  
Social Council ◽  
International Court ◽  
High Commissioner ◽  
The United Nations

This chapter examines the organizational structure of the United Nations, focusing on the principal entities impacting on, monitoring, and enforcing international human rights. These include the Security Council, the General Assembly, the International Court of Justice, the Economic and Social Council, the Human Rights Council, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The chapter explains the functions and responsibilities of these bodies, and highlights the financial and personnel constraints that negatively affect the performance of their duties. The UN treaty bodies will also be introduced.

scholarly journals A Contribuição da Anistia Internacional no processo político de criação do Alto Comissariado da ONU para os Direitos Humanos/The contribution of Amnesty International in the political process of creation of the Un High Comissioner for Human Rights

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-96
Author(s):  
Matheus de Carvalho Hernandez ◽  
Carla Cristina Vreche
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Political Process ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
The Political ◽  
Amnesty International ◽  
United Nations High Commissioner ◽  
Know How ◽  
High Commissioner ◽  
Un General Assembly

Resumo: O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar a participação e mobilização da ONG Anistia Internacional no processo de criação do Alto Comissariado das Nações Unidas para os Direitos Humanos (ACNUDH). A mobilização da opinião pública mundial e o ativismo promovido pela Anistia foram essenciais para que a proposta de criação do ACNUDH fosse aceita consensualmente na 48ª Assembleia Geral da ONU, realizada em dezembro de 1993. Aspectos da estrutura organizacional desta ONG, especialmente sua distribuição geográfica e seu know-how estão relacionados ao lobby criado em prol dessa importante e inovadora proposta no campo dos direitos humanos. Palavras-chave: Anistia Internacional, Alto Comissariado das Nações Unidas para os Direitos Humanos, ONG. Abstract: This article aims to analyze the participation and mobilization of Amnesty International NGO in the creation process of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The mobilization of world public opinion and activism organized by Amnesty were essential for the establishment of OHCHR to be consensually accepted at the 48th UN General Assembly in December 1993. Aspects of organizational structure of this NGO, especially its geographical distribution and their expertise are related to the lobby created in supporting this important and innovative project in the field of human rights. Key words: Amnesty International, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, NGOs.

Part 3 The United Nations: What it Does, 22 Promotion and Protection of Human Rights

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Higgins Dame Rosalyn, DBE, QC ◽  
Webb Philippa ◽  
Akande Dapo ◽  
Sivakumaran Sandesh ◽  
Sloan James
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Security Council ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Human Rights Council ◽  
High Commissioner ◽  
Human Rights Treaties ◽  
The World ◽  
Fundamental Freedoms ◽  
Protection Of Human Rights

The UN Charter contains several provisions on human rights. Indeed, one of the purposes of the UN is ‘[t]o achieve co-operation … in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion’. The promotion and protection of human rights is also spread throughout the UN system, from the General Assembly and Security Council in New York, to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council in Geneva, to field presences across the world. This chapter discusses the principal organs involved in the protection and promotion of human rights, including the Human Rights Council and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Also covered are human rights treaties and treaty bodies, human rights conferences, and Geneva–New York relations.

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

1951 ◽  
Vol 45 (S2) ◽  
pp. 24-39 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Universal Declaration ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Council Of Europe ◽  
Fundamental Freedoms ◽  
Protection Of Human Rights ◽  
The United Nations

The Governments signatory hereto, being Members of the Council of Europe, Considering the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10th December, 1948.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian MacNaughton ◽  
Mariah McGill
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Right To Health ◽  
Social Rights ◽  
Limited Capacity ◽  
United Nations High Commissioner ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
High Commissioner ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
The Right

For over two decades, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has taken a leading role in promoting human rights globally by building the capacity of people to claim their rights and governments to fulfill their obligations. This chapter examines the extent to which the right to health has evolved in the work of the OHCHR since 1994, drawing on archival records of OHCHR publications and initiatives, as well as interviews with OHCHR staff and external experts on the right to health. Analyzing this history, the chapter then points to factors that have facilitated or inhibited the mainstreaming of the right to health within the OHCHR, including (1) an increasing acceptance of economic and social rights as real human rights, (2) right-to-health champions among the leadership, (3) limited capacity and resources, and (4) challenges in moving beyond conceptualization to implementation of the right to health.

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