Since its establishment in 1945, the United Nations (UN) has played the role of world enforcer for human dignity, equality and justice. Their objective is to promote and protect human rights. And while the UN offers platforms and means, the real change comes from the member states.
States are arguably the most important body in promoting human rights; they take care of the diplomacy that comes with it. Here, we will discuss how the states influence and shape your rights at the UN. We will also talk about the processes, challenges and how it is working out so far. Read on and see for yourself.
What is the Foundation of State Responsibility?
The most important UN documents for human rights are the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
Even though the UN is monitoring roles, states are implementing, enforcing and respecting these rights. The main duty bearers are the states. They play a major role in implementing international human rights norms in national law.
States pledge by signing international conventions to report and respect the requirements of their human rights. These legal undertakings ground international cooperation on human rights and lays the foundation of the accountability practices, including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
State Participation in Human Rights Mechanisms
The UN has several ways to watch and promote human rights, and states are involved in it actively as subjects and reviewers. The most important processes are:
- Universal Periodic Review (UPR): Each UN Member State goes through a review of its record on human rights and other countries present suggestions. This type of peer process of review is based on constructive interaction and not punishment. Not to mention, the recommendation of a country-to-country can be more effective.
- Treaty Bodies: States that become members of a human rights treaty must provide periodic reports to independent committees (e.g. the Committee on the Rights of the Child). These organizations evaluate compliance and provide comments.
- Special Procedures: States work with UN-mandated special rapporteurs who research on human rights violations on a global basis. Rapporteurs can be invited to country visits made by the states or to respond to their communications.
Not only do such mechanisms create accountability but they also provide a platform through which states can learn from one another and also show progress.
How Does the UN Promote and Protect Human Rights?
With Human Rights being one of the most important roles of the United Nations, they have put some subgroups in place to ensure that this role is fully implemented.
Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council, which was established in 2006, meets in Geneva. It replaced the 60-year-old UN Commission on Human Rights as the key independent UN intergovernmental body responsible for human rights.
Human Rights Treaty Bodies
The human rights treaty bodies are committees of independent experts that monitor the implementation of the core international human rights treaties. Each State party to a treaty has an obligation to take steps to ensure that everyone in the State can enjoy the rights set out in the treaty.
The treaty bodies are composed of independent experts of recognized competence in human rights, who are nominated and elected for fixed renewable terms of four years by State parties.
Wrap Up
States have an increasingly important role to play in the UN human rights system at a time when challenges of climate change, migration crises, digital surveillance and weakening civil space are prevalent. The UN system must rise to the occasion and live its motto that leaves no one behind, to remain United in spite of its powerful political forces, its Member States should just emphasize human rights over politics and people over power and believe in the spirit of the UN Charter.