The term “human rights” was mentioned seven times in the UN's founding Charter, making the promotion and protection of human rights a key purpose and guiding principle of the Organization.
In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights lay down the principles that brought human rights into the realm of international law. Since then, the Organization has diligently protected human rights through legal instruments and on-the-ground activities.
How does the UN promote and protect human rights?
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Headquartered in Geneva, with many regional offices, the has lead responsibility in the UN system for the promotion and protection of .
The office supports the of peacekeeping missions in several countries, and in addition to its regional offices, has HR Centres, Country/Stand-alone Offices and Human Rights Advisors .
The regularly comments on situations in the world relating to , and has the authority to investigate situations and publish reports on them.
UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing Leilani Farha warns of widespread homelessness
OHCHR Regional Offices
Africa
- OHCHR has offices in , including four regional office and centres.
The Americas
- OHCHR has a liaison office in .
- OHCHR's is in Santiago, Chile.
- OHCHR's is in Panama City, Panama.
Asia and the Pacific
- OHCHR has a Pacific Regional Office in .
- The OHCHR Regional Office for South-East Asia is in .
Europe and Central Asia
- OHCHR has a Regional Office for Europe in , and a Regional Office for Central Asia in .
The Middle East
- OHCHR has a Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa in .
North Africa
- OHCHR's Regional Office for North Africa is in .
Human Rights Council
The , 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 are committees of independent experts that monitor implementation of the . 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.
The Human Rights Treaty Body system
Special Procedures
The of the Human Rights Council are prominent, independent experts working on a voluntary basis, who examine, monitor, publicly report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective.
Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect
The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide acts as a catalyst to raise awareness of the causes and dynamics of genocide, to alert relevant actors where there is a risk of genocide, and to advocate and mobilize for appropriate action.
The Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect leads the conceptual, political, institutional and operational development of the Responsibility to Protect.
What legal instruments help the UN protect human rights?
More than 75 years ago the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common human rights standard for everyone, everywhere.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and two Covenants
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) was the first legal document protecting universal human rights. It is generally agreed to be the foundation of international human rights law. In 2023 we marked its .
Together with the and the , the three instruments form the so-called International Bill of Human Rights.
Other instruments
A series of international human rights treaties and other instruments adopted since 1945 have expanded the body of .
In 2007, the General Assembly adopted the .
The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs plays a leading role in the work of the UN to help countries hold credible, transparent and inclusive elections. Since 1992, the UN has assisted more than 100 of its Member States with electoral support.
Democracy
Democracy, based on the rule of law, is ultimately a means to achieve international peace and security, economic and social progress and development, and respect for human rights – the three pillars of the United Nations mission as set forth in the UN Charter.