International Human Rights

Human Rights and International Organizations League of Nations  petitions ILO  international labour standards League of Nations  petitions ILO  international labour standards

The United Nations Charter - Preamble WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

AND FOR THESE ENDS to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,

Article 1 The Purposes of the United Nations are: 1. To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace; 2.To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace; 3.To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and 4.To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends. The Purposes of the United Nations are: 1. To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace; 2.To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace; 3.To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and 4.To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.

CHAPTER IX: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CO-OPERATION - Article 55 With a view to the creation of conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, the United Nations shall promote : a. higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development; b.solutions of international economic, social, health, and related problems; and international cultural and educational cooperation; and c. universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. With a view to the creation of conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, the United Nations shall promote : a. higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development; b.solutions of international economic, social, health, and related problems; and international cultural and educational cooperation; and c. universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.

Article 56 All Members pledge themselves to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the Organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55.

Specialized Agencies - Article The various specialized agencies, established by intergovernmental agreement and having wide international responsibilities, as defined in their basic instruments, in economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related fields, shall be brought into relationship with the United Nations in accordance with the provisions of Article Such agencies thus brought into relationship with the United Nations are hereinafter referred to as specialized agencies. 1. The various specialized agencies, established by intergovernmental agreement and having wide international responsibilities, as defined in their basic instruments, in economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related fields, shall be brought into relationship with the United Nations in accordance with the provisions of Article Such agencies thus brought into relationship with the United Nations are hereinafter referred to as specialized agencies.

Specialized Agencies Article 58 The Organization shall make recommendations for the co- ordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies. Article 59 The Organization shall, where appropriate, initiate negotiations among the states concerned for the creation of any new specialized agencies required for the accomplishment of the purposes set forth in Article 55. Article 60 Responsibility for the discharge of the functions of the Organization set forth in this Chapter shall be vested in the General Assembly and, under the authority of the General Assembly, in the Economic and Social Council, which shall have for this purpose the powers set forth in Chapter X. Article 58 The Organization shall make recommendations for the co- ordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies. Article 59 The Organization shall, where appropriate, initiate negotiations among the states concerned for the creation of any new specialized agencies required for the accomplishment of the purposes set forth in Article 55. Article 60 Responsibility for the discharge of the functions of the Organization set forth in this Chapter shall be vested in the General Assembly and, under the authority of the General Assembly, in the Economic and Social Council, which shall have for this purpose the powers set forth in Chapter X.

UN principal organs (from General Assembly Security Council Economic and Social Council Trusteeship Council (not active any longer) International Court of Justice Secretariat General Assembly Security Council Economic and Social Council Trusteeship Council (not active any longer) International Court of Justice Secretariat

UN Action in the Field of Human Rights Programmes and Funds International Trade Centre (ITC) International Trade Centre Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) United Nations Children's Fund United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) United Nations Development Programme – United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) United Nations Capital Development Fund – United Nations Volunteers (UNV) United Nations Volunteers United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) (2) United Nations Drug Control Programme (2) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) United Nations Human Settlements Programme United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) United Nations Population Fund United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) United Nations World Food Programme Research and Training Institutes United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) United Nations Institute for Training and Research United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) United Nations Research Institute for Social Development Programmes and Funds International Trade Centre (ITC) International Trade Centre Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) United Nations Children's Fund United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) United Nations Development Programme – United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) United Nations Capital Development Fund – United Nations Volunteers (UNV) United Nations Volunteers United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) (2) United Nations Drug Control Programme (2) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) United Nations Human Settlements Programme United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) United Nations Population Fund United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) United Nations World Food Programme Research and Training Institutes United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) United Nations Institute for Training and Research United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) United Nations Research Institute for Social Development

Generations of Human Rights?

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights General Comment No. 14 (2000) The right to the highest attainable standard of health (Art.12) 33. The right to health, like all human rights, imposes three types or levels of obligations on States parties: the obligations to respect, protect and fulfil. In turn, the obligation to fulfil contains obligations to facilitate, provide and promote. The obligation to respect requires States to refrain from interfering directly or indirectly with the enjoyment of the right to health. The obligation to protect requires States to take measures that prevent third parties from interfering with article 12 guarantees. Finally, the obligation to fulfil requires States to adopt appropriate legislative, administrative, budgetary, judicial, promotional and other measures towards the full realization of the right to health. 33. The right to health, like all human rights, imposes three types or levels of obligations on States parties: the obligations to respect, protect and fulfil. In turn, the obligation to fulfil contains obligations to facilitate, provide and promote. The obligation to respect requires States to refrain from interfering directly or indirectly with the enjoyment of the right to health. The obligation to protect requires States to take measures that prevent third parties from interfering with article 12 guarantees. Finally, the obligation to fulfil requires States to adopt appropriate legislative, administrative, budgetary, judicial, promotional and other measures towards the full realization of the right to health.