The United Nations
Commission on Human Rights
Lung-chu Chen
The 57th
Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights is now in
progress in Geneva. It commenced on March 19, and is scheduled to conclude
on April 27. The abuses of human rights in China, as exemplified by the
persecution of Falun Gong, are among the matters of particular concern to
the United States and to the European countries.
The U.N. Commission on Human Rights was created by the Economic and Social
Council in 1946 pursuant to Article 68 of the U.N. Charter. It is the
major U.N. body entrusted with the task of promoting and protecting human
rights. The Commission provides overall policy guidance, studies human
rights problems, formulates international human rights norms and monitors
the observance of human rights around the world. It has the authority to
discuss concrete human rights situations anywhere in the world and to
receive and evaluate reports and information from States, NGOs and other
sources. In light of such examinations, independent fact-finding may be
undertaken through groups, experts, and on-the-spot visits, discussions
with Governments pursued, assistance provided and violations condemned.
Consisting of 53 Member States elected for 3 year terms, the Commission
meets annually for six weeks in Geneva. Since delegates represent, and
take instructions from, their respective governments, the Commission
meetings are highly political.
The Commission on Human Rights reports to the Economic and Social Council.
In the early days, the Commission concentrated on the formulation of an
International Bill of Human Rights and related norms, but in recent years
it has paid more and more attention to situations of gross and consistent
violations of human rights around the world.
With all its controversies and inadequacies, the U.N. Commission on Human
Rights has made enormous contributions in raising human rights
consciousness and in establishing international human rights standards. |