How do Human Rights work in the United Nations?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Human Rights Law
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the General Assembly in
1948, is the cornerstone of the UN’s human rights efforts. It establishes fundamental human
rights to be universally protected and has been translated into over 500 languages, making it
the most translated document in the world. It serves as the foundation for a wide range of
international human rights laws and treaties.
The UDHR outlines key principles of universality and inalienability, asserting that everyone is
equally entitled to human rights, which should not be taken away. It guarantees freedom
from discrimination based on race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other
status. Thus, one set of rights cannot be enjoyed fully without the other.
Building on the UDHR, the United Nations has developed a comprehensive body of
international human rights law through several core international treaties, encompassing
civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. These include:
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965)
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976)
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1976)
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979)
- Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
(1987) - Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)
These human rights treaties are legally binding for ratifying countries and are monitored by
committees of independent experts which are called “treaty bodies”, such as the Committee
on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and
the Committee Against Torture.
The Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council (HRC), established in 2006, is the main intergovernmental body
promoting and protecting human rights globally. Comprising 47 member states elected by
the General Assembly, the HRC addresses human rights violations, makes
recommendations, and oversees special procedures for investigations.
Replacing the 60-year-old UN Commission on Human Rights, the HRC reports directly to the
General Assembly and strengthens global human rights promotion by addressing violations
and responding to emergencies. Its innovative Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism
reviews the human rights records of all 193 UN member states every four years. This
cooperative process allows states to present their human rights measures and challenges,
ensuring universal and equal treatment.
The HRC also employs special procedures with independent human rights experts who
report and advise on thematic or country-specific issues. These experts serve three-year
terms, extendable for another three years, and currently cover 46 thematic and 14 country
mandates as of November 2023.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) plays a pivotal role in
coordinating the UN’s human rights activities. Appointed by the UN Secretary-General, the
High Commissioner is the leading human rights official within the UN, tasked with addressing
serious human rights violations and undertaking preventive actions.
The OHCHR provides crucial assistance to governments in fulfilling their human rights
obligations, supports the Human Rights Council and other UN bodies, and conducts field
missions to monitor and report on human rights situations. Serving as the secretariat for the
Human Rights Council, treaty bodies, and other UN human rights entities, the OHCHR is the
central hub for UN human rights efforts, ensuring the implementation and promotion of
human rights standards globally.
The Role of Non-Governmental Organisations
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a vital role in the UN human rights system.
They provide valuable information to human rights bodies, advocate for improvements, and
assist in the implementation of international human rights standards on the ground.
At Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), we have a special United Nations research team
that covers the various Human Rights Council sessions and General Assembly sessions.