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Samina Naz, First Secretary of the Permanent
Mission of the People's Republic of
Bangladesh to the UN, 2003 |
United Nations subsidiary bodies do important work in setting the international human rights agenda and discussing human rights issues.
There are several UN bodies that act as diplomatic forums in which states come together to discuss and debate human rights issues, decide if certain situations around the world are particularly threatening to human rights, and make recommendations on what ought to be done to address human rights issues. Other than the UN Security Council, no other UN agency has legal authority to authorize coercive measures for human rights. The other agencies may pass resolutions about specific rights in specific places, but they are limited to diplomatic steps.
Click on each UN entity for a description.
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- Proposes, debates, and drafts reports (resolutions) on international issues.
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- Examines, monitors, and reports on human rights situations in particular states or territories.
- Examines, monitors, and reports on major human rights violations worldwide.
- Passes resolutions criticizing states that fail to conform to standards or that violate human rights.
(See websites below about reform recommendations.) |
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- Coordinates UN policy on human rights among the UN bodies and agencies.
- Nominated by the Secretary-General and elected by the General Assembly.
- Makes statements on human rights, travels widely, and engages in dialogue to build positive relationships.
- Provides access to human rights information and promotes human rights education.
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- Administers UN programs and policies.
- Headed by the Secretary-General.
- Secretary-General serves as a human rights advocate by promoting ideas and commenting on specific situations.
- Secretary-General brings issues that threaten international peace and security, including human rights issues, to the attention of the Security Council.
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- Charged with maintaining international peace and security.
- The only UN body that can authorize coercive action to enforce or restore international peace and security.
- United States, Russia, France, United Kingdom, and China are permanent members.
- Also has ten rotating nonpermanent members.
- Has authorized military force to end gross violations of human rights, such ethnic cleansing and genocide.
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Other than the UN Security Council, most of these UN bodies do not have the authority to take any substantive action to enforce human rights standards. The basic function of these UN bodies is to monitor whether states are abiding by human rights standards and norms in general. These bodies do not act as monitors or enforcers of specific human rights treaties. Their main role is to help solidify the international consensus on certain ideas and to further develop human rights norms.
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What purpose does the UN have if it cannot enforce international human rights law? Should the UN be able to do more than “criticize” misbehaving countries?
What similarities do countries that are considered permanent members of the UN Security Council have? What makes a country a permanent member? How does a country become part of the rotating group?
How should UN members be handled if they violate any of the human rights laws? |
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