A New Chapter for Human Rights. A Handbook on Issues of Transition from the Commission on Human Rights to the Human Rights Council
- Document number
- 1269
- Date
- 2006
- Title
- A New Chapter for Human Rights. A Handbook on Issues of Transition from the Commission on Human Rights to the Human Rights Council
- Author/publisher
- Meghna Abraham, International Service for Human Rights, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
- Availability
- View/save PDF version of this document
- Document type(s)
- Training Material/Resources,
- Keywords
- United Nations
- Summary
- After 60 years the Commission on Human Rights is no more. There is a new international mechanism for the promotion and protection of human rights, the Human Rights Council (the Council).For exactly 60 years, since 1946, the Commission on Human Rights(the Commission) was the principal human rights body within the United Nations system. It produced the enormous body of international human rights law and standards that now governs the conduct of States. Under the Resolution passed almost unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 March 2006, the Commission was abolished on 16 June and three days later, on 19 June, the Council began its work. The Resolution recognises the achievements of the Commission, its mandates, mechanisms, functions and responsibilities, and carries them forward to the new Council. This handbook has been produced to support all those wanting to participate in the new Council. It is intended primarily for human rights defenders and advocates but will no doubt be of assistance to representatives of States and international officials too. It looks at what the Commission has passed on to the Council, what the Council needs to consider and do during its first year, and what choices lie before it. It also reviews the Commission in terms of its achievements and shortcomings with the aim of stimulating ideas and debate.
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