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.