The UN Human Rights System

This "Special Feature" deals specifically with UN international human rights treaties and several of the key human rights mechanisms within the UN system. It also contains a number of legal, policy and operational material relevant to UNHCR in the field of human rights.

United Nations International Rights Treaties

• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
  • Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
  • Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
  • Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
  • Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
• Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
  • Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
  • Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography
  • Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict
• International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
  • Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

Key UN Declarations and Resolutions Related to Human Rights

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by General Assembly Resolution 217 A(III) of 10 December 1948.
• Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, as contained in the Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Francis M. Deng, submitted pursuant to Commission resolution 1997/39 (E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2), dated 11 February 1998
• General Assembly Documents under the topic of Human Rights

United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies

The human rights treaty bodies are committees of independent experts that monitor implementation of the core international human rights treaties. Each State party to a treaty has an obligation to take steps to ensure that everyone in the State can enjoy the rights set out in the treaty. In addition to conducting periodic reviews of State compliance, several of the treaty bodies may also, under certain conditions, receive individual complaints regarding violations (or foreseen violations) of human rights. In such instances they may request interim measures (such as a stay of deportation) until they can issue a decision on the merits of the case, United Nations Treaty Collection website, for the ratification status by country.

• UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
• UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR)
• UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR)
• UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
• UN Committee Against Torture (CAT)
• UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
• UN Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW)
• UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT)
• UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
• UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED)

The Committees also publish their interpretation of the content of human rights provisions, known as “general comments” or “general recommendations”, on thematic issues or methods of work. These cover a wide range of subjects, from the comprehensive interpretation of substantive provisions to general guidance on the information that should be submitted in State reports.

Following the review of a State party report, the treaty body in question issues a set of "concluding observations" or "recommendations", containing its collective assessment of the State's record and recommendations for enhanced implementation of the rights in question. The State party is expected to take steps to implement these recommendations in order to better fulfill its treaty obligations and may be called upon to provide follow-up information on steps it has taken in this regard.

• Concluding Observations

United Nations Human Rights Council

TheUN Human Rights Councilis the principle intergovernmental body within the UN system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe, and for addressing and taking action on human rights violations around the globe. In addition to the work conducted in the regular Human Rights Council Sessions and Special Sessions, the Council also establishes and oversees the work of a number of subsidiary mechanisms, including independent investigations, the Universal Periodic Review process, and the Special Procedures (see below).

• Resolutions Adopted by the Human Rights Council
• Decisions Adopted by the Human Rights Council
• Reports of the Human Rights Council

Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council (UPR)

The Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR)is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States once every 4.5 years. States under review can declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situation in their countries, and highlight the challenges and constraints they are facing. The other Member States then have the opportunity to acknowledge the positive achievements, express concerns and ultimately pose recommendations to the State for further improvement. Each year 42 States are reviewed, receiving an average of 180 recommendations each. The review is conducted on the basis of three documents:

UNHCR regularly issues public submissions on States under review. These submissions contribute to the compilation of UN information. Once a State’s review (or “Working Group” session) has taken place, a Final Report of the Working Group is adopted which sets out all of the recommendations a State has received. States may then “note” these recommendations, or “support” them and commit to their implementation.

Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council

The Special Procedures mandate holders are made up of special rapporteurs, independent experts or working groups composed of five members who are appointed by the Council and who serve in their personal capacity. They may have either thematic or country-specific mandates. They undertake country visits; act/intervene with States on individual cases and/ or broader human rights situations; conduct thematic studies and issue annual reports; raise public awareness; and provide advice for technical cooperation. The experts report at least once a year to the Council on their findings and recommendations, as well as to the UN General Assembly.

• All reports from the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons
• All reports from the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
• All reports from the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
• All reports from the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
• All reports from the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children
• All reports from the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
• All reports from the Independent Expert on minority issues
• All reports from the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

United Nations Independent Investigations

United Nations mandated commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions and investigations are increasingly being used to respond to situations of serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, whether protracted or resulting from sudden events, and to promote accountability for such violations and counter impunity. These international investigative bodies have been established by the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, its predecessor, the Commission on Human Rights, the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

• Current and Past Mandates (OHCHR's Website)