Commission on Human Rights

Main themes

The main themes addressed by the Commission are: the right to self-determination; racism; the right to development; the question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine; the question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world; economic, social and cultural rights; civil and political rights, including the questions of torture and detention, disappearances and summary executions, freedom of expression, the independence of the judiciary, impunity and religious intolerance; the human rights of women, children, migrant workers, minorities and displaced persons; indigenous issues; the promotion and protection of human rights, including the work of the Sub-Commission, treaty bodies and national institutions; and advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights.

Working groups

From time to time the Commission identifies areas in which existing standards need to be further developed to confront new and growing concerns. At present, it is working to reinforce safeguards against torture and other forms of cruel or inhuman treatment in custody through preventive visits to places of detention, and to promote the rights of indigenous populations.

Other subjects that are currently under consideration by working groups of the Commission are the right to development, and structural adjustment programmes and human rights.

If complaints from individuals or organizations received by the Sub-Commission's Working Group on Communications reveal a pattern of serious human rights violations in a country, the matter can be brought to the attention of the Commission's Working Group on Situations and of the Commission itself.

Standard-setting and implementation

One of the most important tasks entrusted to the Commission has been the elaboration of human rights standards. In 1948 it concluded work on the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Since then it has developed standards relating, inter alia, to the right to development, civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, the elimination of racial discrimination, torture, the rights of the child and the rights of human rights defenders.

All States that accept these standards are obliged to implement the rights they entail and to report regularly to international bodies set up to monitor their compliance.

Human rights standards have little value if they are not implemented. Consequently, the Commission devotes much of its time to examining issues of implementation. Some of its work is particularly sensitive, generating extensive debate and often disagreement. Its network of mechanisms - experts, representatives and rapporteurs - plays an important role in reporting to the Commission annually. Information received from Governments, non-governmental organizations and individuals is used in the preparation of these reports.

The Commission's success is measured by its ability to make a difference to the lives of individuals.

Advisory services and technical cooperation

Where problems are identified, the Commission can take action to address them. It regularly requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide assistance to Governments through its programme of advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights. This assistance takes the form of expert advice, human rights seminars, national and regional training courses and workshops, fellowships and scholarships, and other activities aimed at strengthening national capacities for the protection and promotion of human rights.

Further information on human rights and on the work of the Commission on Human Rights:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a part of the United Nations Secretariat, provides secretariat services to the Commission on Human Rights and to other human rights meetings. The Office is located in Geneva, Switzerland.

Questions regarding the work of the Commission on Human Rights may be directed to its Chairperson through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at the following address:

Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson,
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: (41 22) 917 90 00 fax: (41 22) 917 90 11
e-mail: webadmin.hchr@unog.ch