UN and Human Rights

1. Give to every human being every right that you claim
for yourself. ~Robert Ingersoll
United Nation And
“Human Rights ‘’ Rai M Raza Sher
Law Department Hazara University

4. UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION

5.  The United Nations is an international organization designed
to make the enforcement of international law, security,
economic development, social progress, and human rights
easier for countries around the world.
 The United Nations includes 192 member countries and its
main headquarters are located in New York City.
Purposes: The purposes of the United Nations, as set forth in
the Charter, are to maintain international peace and security,
to develop friendly relations among nations, to cooperate in
solving international economic, social, cultural and
humanitarian problems and to promote respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms.
 It is to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in
attaining these ends.

6. HISTORY:
• The League of Nations failed to prevent World War II
(1939–1945). Because of the widespread recognition
that humankind could not afford a Third World War,
the United Nations was established to replace the
flawed League of Nations in order to maintain
international peace and promote cooperation in
solving international economic, social and
humanitarian problems.

7. • The principles of the UN as explained in the Charter
was to save future generations from war, reaffirm
human rights, and establish equal rights for all
persons. In addition it also aims to promote justice,
freedom, and social progress for the people of all of
its member states.

8. U
UDHR
December 10th, 1948
http://www.slideshare.net/core102/universal-declaration-of-human-rights?src=related_normal&rel=2677574

9. United Nations Charter
AND HUMAN Rights
• Article 1(3) of the United Nations charter states that one of
the purposes of the UN is: "to achieve international
cooperation in solving international problems of an
economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in
promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for
fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race,
sex, language, or religion".Article 55 provides that:
• The United Nations shall promote: a) higher standards of
living, full employment, and conditions of economic and
social progress and development; b) solutions of
international economic, social, health, and related problems;
c) international cultural and educational cooperation;
d)universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race,
sex, language, or religion.

10. United Nations Charter
AND HUMAN Rights
• The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights was adopted by General Assembly
resolution 217A at its 3rd session in Paris
on 10 December 1948.

11. Who Wrote the UDHR?
• United Nations Human
Rights Commission was
formed to draft the
Declaration
• Chairman: Former First
Eleanor
Lady Rene Cassin of France (far right) and
Eleanor Roosevelt interview
Roosevelt
http://untreaty.un.org/cod/avl/images/ha/udhr/photo%20gallery/06-large.jpg
http://www.slideshare.net/core102/universal-declaration-of-human-rights?src=related_normal&rel=2677574

12. Significance of the UDHR
• First time
fundamental human
rights are
universally
protected.
• Preamble with 30
Chairman Eleanor Roosevelt holding the
articles document.
http://themormonworker.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/94944-004-5fa0aee2.jpg
http://www.slideshare.net/core102/universal-declaration-of-human-rights?src=related_normal&rel=2677574

13. It is our duty to ensure that these
rights are a living reality -- that
they are known, understood and
enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.
It is often those who most need
their human rights protected, who
also need to be informed that the
Declaration exists -- and that it
exists for them.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

14. • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by
the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, partly in response to
the atrocities of World War II. Although the UDHR was a non-binding
resolution, it is now considered by some to have acquired the force of
international customary law which may be invoked in appropriate
circumstances by national and other judiciaries. The UDHR urges
member nations to promote a number of human, civil, economic and
social rights, asserting these rights as part of the "foundation
of freedom, justice and peace in the world." The declaration was the
first international legal effort to limit the behavior of states and press
upon them duties to their citizens following the model of the rights-
duty duality.
• ...recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable
rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of
freedom, justice and peace in the world.
• —Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948

15. (Summary Version)
The General Assembly proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human
Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all
nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society,
keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and
education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by
progressive measures, national and international, to secure their
universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the
peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of
territories under their jurisdiction.

17. UN Human Rights Bodies
• Security Council
• General Assembly
• Economic and Social Council
• Commission on Human Rights
• Sub commission on the Promotion and
Protection of Human Rights
• Commission on the Status of Women

18. UN Human Rights Bodies
• Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal
Justice
• International Court of Justice
• International Criminal Court
• Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights (created by the General Assembly in
1993)

19. UN Human Rights Bodies
• Treaty Monitoring Bodies
– Human Rights Committee
– Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination
– Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against
Women
– Committee Against Torture
– Committee on the Rights of the Child
– Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights

20. International Court of Justice
Security council
Secretariat
General Assembly
Economic & social council Trusteeship council
Commission on humans rights
International Labour organization (ILO)
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
United Nation development fund for Women
United nation Educational, Scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO)
World Health Organization (WTO)

21. HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS

22. Human Rights in International Law
• Regional Organizations and Law-Making
(cont.)
– Organization of African Unity was founded in
1963 and adopted the African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights in 1981. The
African Commission on Human and Peoples’
Rights is charged with supervising the
implementation of the African Charter.

23. Use of State and Federal Courts to
Protect Human Rights
• Congress and State Legislatures may enact
legislation that specifically incorporates
international law into domestic law
• Judicial interpretation and application of
existing legislative or constitutional
provisions

24. Local Non-Governmental
Organizations
• Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
• American Refugee Committee
• Center for Victims of Torture
• Institute on Agricultural and Trade Policy
• University of Minnesota Human Rights
Center

25. NGO Activities
• Monitor elections and political trials
• Investigate human rights and conditions
– Analyze human rights practices in closed
countries – Albania, North Korea, Saudi Arabia
– Identify and analyze conflicts in Chiapas and
Kosovo
– Child slavery in Haiti; child health in Mexico,
Uganda and the United States

26. NGO Activities
• Lobby United Nations
• Draft model statutes
– Inquest procedures
– Forensic techniques
– Domestic violence laws
• Represent political asylum seekers
• Promote ratification of human rights
treaties