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Commission on Human Rights (1947-2006)

Disintegration

On March 15, 2006 the General Assembly created the Human Rights Council with A/RES/60/251. It is the organ succeeding the Commission on Human Rights. On March 27, 2006 the Commission held its last meeting. 

Below you will find a description of the Commission on Human Rights.

Structure and Modus Operandi

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) consisted of 53 states' representatives that hailed from all regions of the world. Every year, the Commission on Human Rights would meet in March/April for a six week session in Geneva. The mandate of the Commission encompassed the authoring of proposals, recommendations and reports regarding the development and better protection of human rights. 

Together with its 26 independent experts of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, the Commission on Human Rights was the central political organ for the global promotion of human rights. It authored drafts on human rights issues and was an important forum in which government officials, NGOs and the public could discuss human rights issues.  

Enforcement of Human Rights

To enforce human rights related issues, the Commission had two procedures at its disposal:

1235-Procedure

With Resolution 1235 (XLII) of 1967 the ECOSOC allowed a Special Rapporteur or a working Group of the Commission on Human Rights to conduct investigations concerning systematic and grave human rights abuses. The investigators were sent into countries with a history of grave human rights abuses. 

1503-Procedure

This procedure from the year 1970 allowed the Commission on Human Rights to make states accountable for human rights abuses. The procedure was confidential.

Update: 19.08.2011

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