CITIZEN DISCOVER THE FACTS How does the UN act to protect human rights?
The United Nations is an organisation with representatives from 193 governments. We will look at how it is organised in chapter 17. It created the UDHR in 1948 and has set up the following bodies to help it become not just a document, but a reality:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Established in 1993 after a World Conference on Human Rights.
• Headed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, who is chosen by the UN General Assembly. The job is currently held by Michelle Bachelet, who was previously Chile’s first female president.
• The High Commissioner supervises all work by the UN to implement and police the rules of the UDHR in member countries, as well as the work of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
• From 1997 to 2002, the role was held by former Irish president Mary Robinson.
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
• UN body based in Geneva, Switzerland, whose mission it is to promote and protect human rights around the world.
• Investigates allegations of human rights breaches (being broken) in member countries.
• Has 47 members from different countries at any one time.
• Carries out regular periodic reviews on human rights in all member countries and suggests actions that should be taken.
• Has been criticised for allowing countries with bad records on human rights to be on the Council.
