The United Nations and Human Rights
The United Nations Charter sets forth the "inherent dignity" and the "equal
and inalienable rights of all members of the human family." Upholding these
human rights principles as "the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in
the world" is fundamental to every undertaking of the United Nations.
The UN General Assembly
The United Nations currently comprises 185 member states, all of which
belong to the General Assembly. The General Assembly controls the UN’s
finances, makes non-binding recommendations, and oversees and elects
members of other UN organs. It is the General Assembly that ultimately votes
to adopt human rights declarations and conventions, which are also
called treaties or covenants. For example, in 1948 when the UN
Commission on Human Rights had completed its draft of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the General Assembly voted to adopt the
document.
Other UN Bodies
In addition to the General Assembly, in which all member states are
represented, there are five other main bodies of the United Nations that deal
with different types of international concerns and administrative tasks.
Although human rights are fundamental to all functions of the UN, human
rights issues mainly fall under the Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC). This council of fifty-four members elected by the General
Assembly is responsible for coordinating all economic and social work of the
UN and its affiliated institutions.
The Economic and Social Council oversees the work of
many intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and certain UN
commissions, such as the UN Commission on Human Rights.
The UN Commission on Human Rights
Made up of fifty-three member states elected by ECOSOC the UN
Commission on Human Rights initiates studies and fact-finding missions and
discusses specific human rights issues. It has responsibility for initiating and
drafting human rights declarations and conventions.
ECOSOC also supervises intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), which
are specialized agencies that function independently with their own charter,
budget, and staff but are affiliated with the UN by special
agreements. IGOs report to the ECOSOC and may be asked to review reports
from certain UN bodies that are relevant to their area of focus.
Some intergovernmental organizations that work to protect human rights
include:
International Labor Organization (ILO) – Develops international labor
standards and provides technical assistance training to governments.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – Works with other UN
bodies, governments, and nongovernmental organizations to provide
community-based services in primary healthcare, basic education, and
safe water and sanitation for children in developing countries. Human
rights are fundamental to its programming.
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) –
Promotes economic and political empowerment of women in developing
countries, working to ensure their participation in development planning
and practices, as well as their human rights.
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) – Pursues intellectual cooperation in education, science,
culture, and communications and promotes development through social,
cultural, and economic projects.
World Health Organization (WHO) – Conducts immunization
campaigns, promotes and coordinates research, and provides technical
assistance to countries that are improving their health systems.
Other UN Bodies and Human Rights
The UN Security Council, comprising fifteen member states, is responsible
for making decisions regarding international peace and security. It can make
recommendations and decisions for action, including providing humanitarian
aid, imposing economic sanctions, and recommending peacekeeping
operations. The Security Council has been responsible for establishing
international tribunals to prosecute serious violations of humanitarian law. For
example, special tribunals have been set up to prosecute war crimes in the
former Yugoslavia and acts of genocide in Rwanda.
The Secretariat is the administrative arm of the UN, responsible for
overseeing the programs and policies established by the other UN organs.
The position of UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, currently held by
Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland, is part of the UN Secretariat.
Sources: "The United Nations at a Glance," UNA-USA Factsheet; Frank
Newman and David Weissbrodt, International Human Rights: Law, Policy, and
Process: 9-12.
When you expand the civil rights struggle to the level of human rights, you can
take the case of the Black man in this country before the nations of the United
Nations. You can take it before the General Assembly. You can take Uncle
Sam before the World Court. But the only level you can do it on is the level of
human rights. Human rights are something that you are born with. Human
rights are your God-given rights. Human rights are the rights recognized by all
the nations of this earth.