Achieving Much with Little: The Work of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights
| Date | 01 December 1990 |
| DOI | 10.1177/016934419000800403 |
| Published date | 01 December 1990 |
| Author | Markus G. Schmidt |
| Subject Matter | Part A: Article |
Schmidt/UN
Centre
for Human Rights
ACHIEVING MUCH WITH LITTLE: THE WORK OF THE UNITED
NATIONS CENTRE
FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS
Markus G. Schmidt'
Hardly a day passes without reports about serious violations of human
rights in various parts
of
the globe. Governments, non-governmental
organizations, international organizations and,
not
least, concerned
individuals and an informed public opinion endeavour to monitor comp-
liance by States with international human rights standards and, wherever
possible, to remedy such violations as are occurring.
The
promotion of the respect for human rights is foremost among the
activities
of
the United Nations.
The
UN Charter, in its Preamble, accords
a high priority to the promotion of human rights, and the Universal
Declaration of HumanRights, adopted on 10 December1948, undoubtedly
remains acommonstandard of achievement for all nations.
The
Universal
Declaration has in turn inspired the drafting of virtually all the human
rights conventions, covenants, and declarations adopted within the UN
framework such as: the International Covenant on Civiland Political Rights
(CCPR); the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights (CESR); the Conventionagainst Torture and other Forms of Cruel,
Inhuman and Degrading Treatment (CAT); the Convention on the
Elimination
of
All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD); and the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women.
Numerous UN bodies and committees are entrusted with the task of
promoting respect for human rights. The most visible among them
undoubtedly
are
the Commission on Human Rights, established pursuant
to Article 68 of the
UN
Charter, and the Sub-Commission on the
Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. Equally
important, if less visible, is the work of numerous so-called "treaty-based
bodies" consisting of independent experts elected in their individual
Officer at the Communications Section of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights
in Geneva. All views expressed in this article are those of the author in his individual
capacity.
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