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United Nations: Difference between revisions
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In 1948, the General Assembly adopted a [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]], drafted by a committee headed by American diplomat and activist [[Eleanor Roosevelt]], and including the French lawyer [[René Cassin]]. The document proclaims basic civil, political and economic rights common to all human beings, though its effectiveness towards achieving these ends has been disputed since its drafting.{{sfn|Kennedy|2007|pp=178–182}} The Declaration serves as a "common standard of achievement for all people and all nations" rather than a legally binding document, but it has become the basis of two binding treaties, the [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]] and the [[International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights]].{{sfn|Fomerand|2009|p=377}} In practice, the UN is unable to take significant action against human rights abuses without a Security Council resolution, though it does substantial work in investigating and reporting abuses.{{sfn|Kennedy|2007|pp=185, 188}} | In 1948, the General Assembly adopted a [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]], drafted by a committee headed by American diplomat and activist [[Eleanor Roosevelt]], and including the French lawyer [[René Cassin]]. The document proclaims basic civil, political and economic rights common to all human beings, though its effectiveness towards achieving these ends has been disputed since its drafting.{{sfn|Kennedy|2007|pp=178–182}} The Declaration serves as a "common standard of achievement for all people and all nations" rather than a legally binding document, but it has become the basis of two binding treaties, the [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]] and the [[International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights]].{{sfn|Fomerand|2009|p=377}} In practice, the UN is unable to take significant action against human rights abuses without a Security Council resolution, though it does substantial work in investigating and reporting abuses.{{sfn|Kennedy|2007|pp=185, 188}} | ||
In 1979, the General Assembly adopted the [[Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women]]; followed by the [[Convention on the Rights of the Child]] in 1989.{{sfn|Fomerand|2009|pp=70, 73}} With the end of the Cold War, the push for human rights action took on new impetus.{{sfn|Kennedy|2007|p=192}} The [[United Nations Commission on Human Rights]] was formed in 1993 to oversee human rights issues for the UN, following the recommendation of that year's [[World Conference on Human Rights]]. Jacques Fomerand, a scholar of the UN, describes the organization's mandate as "broad and vague", with only "meagre" resources to carry it out.{{sfn|Fomerand|2009|p=347}} In 2006, it was replaced by a [[United Nations Human Rights Council|Human Rights Council]] consisting of 47 nations.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4810538.stm |title=UN creates new human rights body |date=15 March 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226121934/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4810538.stm |archive-date=26 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2006, the General Assembly passed a [[Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples|Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/FAQsindigenousdeclaration.pdf |title=Frequently Asked Questions: Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples |publisher=United Nations |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413164920/http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/FAQsindigenousdeclaration.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2011 it passed its first resolution recognizing the rights of members of the [[LGBT|LGBTQ+]] community.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/17/un-gay-rights-protection-resolution-passes-_n_879032.html |date=17 June 2011 |agency= | In 1979, the General Assembly adopted the [[Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women]]; followed by the [[Convention on the Rights of the Child]] in 1989.{{sfn|Fomerand|2009|pp=70, 73}} With the end of the Cold War, the push for human rights action took on new impetus.{{sfn|Kennedy|2007|p=192}} The [[United Nations Commission on Human Rights]] was formed in 1993 to oversee human rights issues for the UN, following the recommendation of that year's [[World Conference on Human Rights]]. Jacques Fomerand, a scholar of the UN, describes the organization's mandate as "broad and vague", with only "meagre" resources to carry it out.{{sfn|Fomerand|2009|p=347}} In 2006, it was replaced by a [[United Nations Human Rights Council|Human Rights Council]] consisting of 47 nations.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4810538.stm |title=UN creates new human rights body |date=15 March 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226121934/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4810538.stm |archive-date=26 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2006, the General Assembly passed a [[Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples|Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/FAQsindigenousdeclaration.pdf |title=Frequently Asked Questions: Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples |publisher=United Nations |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413164920/http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/FAQsindigenousdeclaration.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2011 it passed its first resolution recognizing the rights of members of the [[LGBT|LGBTQ+]] community.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/17/un-gay-rights-protection-resolution-passes-_n_879032.html |date=17 June 2011 |agency=Associated Press |first=Frank |last=Jordans |title=U.N. Gay Rights Protection Resolution Passes, Hailed As 'Historic Moment' |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113131517/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/17/un-gay-rights-protection-resolution-passes-_n_879032.html |archive-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
Other UN bodies responsible for [[women's rights]] issues include the [[United Nations Commission on the Status of Women]], the [[United Nations Development Fund for Women]] and the [[United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women]].{{sfn|Fomerand|2009|pp=57, 194, 341}} The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, one of three bodies with a mandate to oversee issues related to indigenous peoples, held its first session in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://undesadspd.org/IndigenousPeoples/AboutUsMembers.aspx |title=United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues |publisher=United Nations |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101010131/http://undesadspd.org/IndigenousPeoples/AboutUsMembers.aspx |archive-date=1 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> | Other UN bodies responsible for [[women's rights]] issues include the [[United Nations Commission on the Status of Women]], the [[United Nations Development Fund for Women]] and the [[United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women]].{{sfn|Fomerand|2009|pp=57, 194, 341}} The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, one of three bodies with a mandate to oversee issues related to indigenous peoples, held its first session in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://undesadspd.org/IndigenousPeoples/AboutUsMembers.aspx |title=United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues |publisher=United Nations |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101010131/http://undesadspd.org/IndigenousPeoples/AboutUsMembers.aspx |archive-date=1 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||