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Background information on the
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What is the UNCHR?
Since its creation, the United Nations has been working to promote
and protect human rights worldwide. The United Nations Commission
on Human Rights (UNCHR) is the main intergovernmental policy-making
body concerned with human rights issues. It was established in 1946
to study human rights problems, monitor compliance with human rights
standards, develop and codify new international norms, and to provide
overall policy guidance. It is the most important international
forum for raising, discussing and clarifying allegations of a wide
range of human rights violations.
The Commission is made up of 53 state members that are elected for 3-year terms by the UN Economic and Social Council. Canada has been elected for a new term as a full member for 2005-2007.
The UNCHR meets for a six-week session in March and April every year. More than 3 000 delegates participate, representing member and observer States, international and intergovernmental organizations as well as non-governmental organizations.
The Work of the UNCHR
The Commission uses a variety means to carry out its mandate of
promoting and protecting human rights internationally. The views
of the Commission can be articulated through “Statements of
the Chair,” but are most strongly expressed through the adoption
of “Resolutions” which are used to publicly condemn
human rights abuses and exert political pressure on violating states.
Resolutions can also suggest specific state action, make requests
to other UN bodies, or designate fact-finding groups of experts
to study the matter further.
The UNCHR’s independent fact-finding system is referred to as “Special Procedures,” which can take the form of special rapporteurs, representatives, independent experts, or working groups of experts. The Commission’s ability to appoint independent experts to examine, monitor and publicly report on human rights violations is one of its most important, but also controversial roles.
UNCHR 61
The 61st session of the UNCHR will begin in Geneva, Switzerland
on March 14, 2005. Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew has
said that, “This is a particularly important year for the
international community as we look at ways to reinvigorate the United
Nations and ensure that human rights remain central to its work.”
Minister Pettigrew will attend the “high-level segment”
of the session and meet with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Louise Arbour. The Canadian government delegation will participate
in the whole session, focusing its work on the following priorities:
impunity, freedom of expression and opinion, violence against women,
and the rights of indigenous peoples.
KAIROS will be sending one of its staff to participate in two weeks of deliberations at UNCHR 61 under the auspices of the Canadian Council of Churches. KAIROS will coordinate its work with its international civil society partners, and the Canadian government delegation. KAIROS will raise a number of issues of concern, including impunity and human rights violations in Indonesia, Colombia and Sudan, just peace in Palestine/ Israel, and the UN draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. For more details, please see the attached KAIROS and partner submissions for UNCHR 61.
For more information on the UNCHR:
- See the draft text of “A Civil Society Guide to Canada’s Voice At the United Nations Commission on Human Rights” excerpted from “A Civil Society Guide to Canada’s Voice in the World,” an advocacy toolkit being developed by Friends of the Earth Canada in collaboration with KAIROS, the Canadian Council for International Cooperation (CCIC) and the Halifax Initiative. (PDF format)
- http://www.un.org/rights/HRToday/
- click on “Human Rights in Action” section in the
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