The roles (what do they do in relation to PROMOTING AND ENFORCING HR) of various organisations in international responses
Organisation Promotion role Enforcement role Evaluation of effectiveness
Promotes and protects through: Enforced through: Effective in providing
international guidelines for HR
UNITED NATIONS ● The High Commissioner ● International Bill of Human Rights (UDHR, and putting international
(UN) ICCPR, ICESCR)
● The Human Rights Council customary law into a document,
● Democratic governments (as they are based however not very effective in
● Human Rights Treaty Bodies on the rule of law-> achieves int. peace, physical enforcement of rights.
● special procedures + advisors economic and social progress and
development and respect for human rights.
● UN development group’s Human Rights
Mainstreaming Mechanism (UNDG-HRM). ● security council (see below)
● Human Rights Teams in UN Peace Operations. ● Third Committee of the General Assembly-
examines range of issues (incl. HR q’s).
UDHR: “Member States have pledged themselves to
achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the ● Various other UN bodies- Secretarial-General
promotion of universal respect for and observance of (addresses range of HR issues by appointing
human rights and fundamental freedoms.” … “every representatives to advocate), General
individual and every organ of society, shall strive by Assembly and the Economic and Social Council
teaching and education to promote respect for these (make recommendations to member states &
rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, UN).
national and international, to secure their universal
and effective recognition and observance.”
The office of the Has lead responsibility for promotion and protection of It collaborates with governments to strengthen their Is very effective in promotion of
High Commissioner human rights. Has multiple offices worldwide and in human rights capabilities, encourages states to human rights and developing
for human rights rural areas. The High Commissioner comments on develop policies and institutions that are conducive to solutions with the assistance of
human rights situations across the world and has the human rights, and provides advice and technical governments, however has no
authority to investigate and issue reports on them. assistance to achieve these goals. means of ensuring justice- ie. no
Purpose: legally binding treaty or
enforcement agency.
● advance universal ratification and
implementations of human rights
, law/standards
● education, information and technical
assistance, taking preventative action and
responding to serious human rights violations
● supports other UN HR bodies
The Human Rights Main UN body charged with monitoring and evaluating Limited enforcement role. Can only make Effective in identifying issues that
Council conditions of human rights around the world and recommendations to the UN. cause violations and creating
identifying major areas of concern. Promotes HR by strategies to minimize them.
discussing HR issues and cases where breaches of HR Little enforcement role, therefore
have occurred. Makes recommendations as to ineffective in this regard.
minimize the violations of HR.
UN Security The UN organ charged with preservation of UN Security Council- authorised to investigate, Is highly effective in its research
Council- mediate, dispatch missions, appoint special envoys, and recommendations/solutions
international peace and security. It exercises etc. Can opt for more serious measures eg. military for breaches of human rights.
its power through legally binding resolutions, action (approves nation-states to respond to Moderately effective in
breaches/issues with military action). enforcement- basis on
and can authorise military actions, sanctions cooperation of the nation-state,
and doesn’t have enforcement
or peacekeeping operations. The council, it is argued,
agency (ie. international police
has the power to intervene in the most serious of
force) for serious cases.
human rights abuses by states. Numerous proposals
have=made to change the structure and power
of the Security Council to more accurately
reflect today’s world, but this has yet to occur.
Intergovernmental international institution made up of member states,
Organisations created by agreement. Each has an international treaty
(IGOs) that acts as a charter outlining the organisation’s
purpose and operation, they have international legal
‘personality’, which means they can enter into
Organisation Promotion role Enforcement role Evaluation of effectiveness
Promotes and protects through: Enforced through: Effective in providing
international guidelines for HR
UNITED NATIONS ● The High Commissioner ● International Bill of Human Rights (UDHR, and putting international
(UN) ICCPR, ICESCR)
● The Human Rights Council customary law into a document,
● Democratic governments (as they are based however not very effective in
● Human Rights Treaty Bodies on the rule of law-> achieves int. peace, physical enforcement of rights.
● special procedures + advisors economic and social progress and
development and respect for human rights.
● UN development group’s Human Rights
Mainstreaming Mechanism (UNDG-HRM). ● security council (see below)
● Human Rights Teams in UN Peace Operations. ● Third Committee of the General Assembly-
examines range of issues (incl. HR q’s).
UDHR: “Member States have pledged themselves to
achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the ● Various other UN bodies- Secretarial-General
promotion of universal respect for and observance of (addresses range of HR issues by appointing
human rights and fundamental freedoms.” … “every representatives to advocate), General
individual and every organ of society, shall strive by Assembly and the Economic and Social Council
teaching and education to promote respect for these (make recommendations to member states &
rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, UN).
national and international, to secure their universal
and effective recognition and observance.”
The office of the Has lead responsibility for promotion and protection of It collaborates with governments to strengthen their Is very effective in promotion of
High Commissioner human rights. Has multiple offices worldwide and in human rights capabilities, encourages states to human rights and developing
for human rights rural areas. The High Commissioner comments on develop policies and institutions that are conducive to solutions with the assistance of
human rights situations across the world and has the human rights, and provides advice and technical governments, however has no
authority to investigate and issue reports on them. assistance to achieve these goals. means of ensuring justice- ie. no
Purpose: legally binding treaty or
enforcement agency.
● advance universal ratification and
implementations of human rights
, law/standards
● education, information and technical
assistance, taking preventative action and
responding to serious human rights violations
● supports other UN HR bodies
The Human Rights Main UN body charged with monitoring and evaluating Limited enforcement role. Can only make Effective in identifying issues that
Council conditions of human rights around the world and recommendations to the UN. cause violations and creating
identifying major areas of concern. Promotes HR by strategies to minimize them.
discussing HR issues and cases where breaches of HR Little enforcement role, therefore
have occurred. Makes recommendations as to ineffective in this regard.
minimize the violations of HR.
UN Security The UN organ charged with preservation of UN Security Council- authorised to investigate, Is highly effective in its research
Council- mediate, dispatch missions, appoint special envoys, and recommendations/solutions
international peace and security. It exercises etc. Can opt for more serious measures eg. military for breaches of human rights.
its power through legally binding resolutions, action (approves nation-states to respond to Moderately effective in
breaches/issues with military action). enforcement- basis on
and can authorise military actions, sanctions cooperation of the nation-state,
and doesn’t have enforcement
or peacekeeping operations. The council, it is argued,
agency (ie. international police
has the power to intervene in the most serious of
force) for serious cases.
human rights abuses by states. Numerous proposals
have=made to change the structure and power
of the Security Council to more accurately
reflect today’s world, but this has yet to occur.
Intergovernmental international institution made up of member states,
Organisations created by agreement. Each has an international treaty
(IGOs) that acts as a charter outlining the organisation’s
purpose and operation, they have international legal
‘personality’, which means they can enter into
