United Nations Commission on Human Rights

United Nations Commission on Human Rights was a functional commission within the United Nations Economic and Social Council that was responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights around the world, working closely with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and International Labour Organization. The commission was established in 1946 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council and was composed of 53 member states, including China, Russia, United States, France, and United Kingdom. The commission played a crucial role in the development of international human rights law, including the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in collaboration with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

● History

The commission was established in 1946, shortly after the end of World War II, with the aim of promoting and protecting human rights, as envisioned by Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill during the Atlantic Charter and Yalta Conference. The commission's first chair was Eleanor Roosevelt, who played a key role in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, working closely with René Cassin and Charles Malik. The commission also worked with other United Nations agencies, such as the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Development Programme, to promote human rights and development, as outlined in the Millennium Development Goals. Over the years, the commission has been chaired by prominent figures, including Jan Martenson and Louis Joinet, who have worked to advance human rights, in cooperation with European Union and African Union.

● Structure and Membership

The commission was composed of 53 member states, which were elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council for a term of three years, with countries like Canada, Australia, and Germany actively participating. The commission had a bureau, which consisted of a chair, three vice-chairs, and a rapporteur, who were responsible for the day-to-day work of the commission, often in consultation with International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The commission also had a number of special procedures, including special rapporteurs and working groups, which were established to investigate specific human rights issues, such as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which have worked with European Court of Human Rights and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

● Mandate and Activities

The commission's mandate was to promote and protect human rights, as set out in the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in cooperation with Council of Europe and Organization of American States. The commission's activities included the examination of human rights situations in specific countries, such as Myanmar and North Korea, and the consideration of thematic issues, such as torture and discrimination, often in collaboration with International Federation for Human Rights and Human Rights Law Centre. The commission also provided technical assistance and advisory services to countries, to help them improve their human rights situations, as outlined in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and the Paris Principles. The commission worked closely with other United Nations agencies, such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, to promote human rights and development, as envisioned by Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon.

● Criticisms and Controversies

The commission has been criticized for its membership, which included countries with poor human rights records, such as Sudan and Zimbabwe, and for its failure to address certain human rights issues, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Darfur conflict, despite efforts by United Nations Security Council and African Union. The commission has also been criticized for its politicization, with some countries using the commission to promote their own interests, rather than to promote human rights, as noted by Human Rights Council and European Parliament. The commission's special procedures have also been criticized for their lack of independence and their limited resources, despite support from Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations.

● Replacement and Legacy

In 2006, the commission was replaced by the United Nations Human Rights Council, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly to promote and protect human rights, as proposed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and supported by European Union and Council of Europe. The new council has a number of improvements, including a more transparent and accountable membership process, and a stronger focus on promoting and protecting human rights, as outlined in the United Nations Charter and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. The legacy of the commission continues to be felt, with many of its special procedures and activities continuing to operate under the new council, in cooperation with International Labour Organization and World Health Organization.

● Notable Resolutions and Decisions

The commission has adopted a number of notable resolutions and decisions, including the Resolution 1235, which authorized the commission to examine human rights situations in specific countries, and the Resolution 1503, which established the commission's special procedures, often in consultation with United Nations Special Rapporteur and International Committee of the Red Cross. The commission has also adopted resolutions on a range of thematic issues, including torture, discrimination, and women's rights, as outlined in the Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, with support from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The commission's resolutions and decisions have helped to promote and protect human rights around the world, in cooperation with European Court of Human Rights and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.