Until the Second World War it was entirely up to each state how
it treated its people. The atrocities committed by the Nazi regime
against its own citizens led the international post-war community
to decide that no longer could the observance of human rights
be left solely to an individual state. Whilst
recognising the concept of state sovereignty in other matters,
the United Nations set out to ensure that universal respect
for human rights should form one of the primary aims of the
new world organisation. The UN Charter itself provides that
the UN shall promote:
 Universal
respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental
freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex,
language or religion."
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55, United Nations Charter) |
To further this aim, in 1946 the UN created
the Commission on Human Rights and a year later the Subcommission
on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in order to
respond to specific issues related to human rights.
One of the Commission's most important tasks is to elaborate
on human rights standards. In 1948, it completed work on the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and it was adopted. Its
30 articles are the foundation upon which all later human rights
instruments are built.
The Declaration is an expression of principles.
It is not a binding document. It was always recognised that
soon after there would need to be a binding covenant - or treaty
- to give the Declaration legal force.
Since the creation of the Commission on Human
Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN
human rights regime has developed considerably to include numerous
treaties and committees.
The Commission on Human Rights has established
procedures and mechanisms including rapporteurs, experts and
working groups that investigate, monitor and publicly report
on human rights abuses in specific countries or territories.
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