Human rights United Nations

eleanor roosevelt universal declaration of human rights in spanish, 1949

in 1948, general assembly adopted universal declaration of human rights, drafted committee headed franklin d. roosevelt s widow, eleanor, , including french lawyer rené cassin. document proclaims basic civil, political, , economic rights common human beings, though effectiveness towards achieving these ends has been disputed since drafting. declaration serves common standard of achievement peoples , nations rather legally binding document, has become basis of 2 binding treaties, 1966 international covenant on civil , political rights , international covenant on economic, social , cultural rights. in practice, un unable take significant action against human rights abuses without security council resolution, though substantial work in investigating , reporting abuses.

in 1979, general assembly adopted convention on elimination of forms of discrimination against women, followed convention on rights of child in 1989. end of cold war, push human rights action took on new impetus. united nations commission on human rights formed in 1993 oversee human rights issues un, following recommendation of year s world conference on human rights. jacques fomerand, scholar of un, describes organization s mandate broad , vague , meagre resources carry out. in 2006, replaced human rights council consisting of 47 nations. in 2006, general assembly passed declaration on rights of indigenous peoples, , in 2011 passed first resolution recognizing rights of lgbt people.

other un bodies responsible women s rights issues include united nations commission on status of women, commission of ecosoc founded in 1946; united nations development fund women, created in 1976; , united nations international research , training institute advancement of women, founded in 1979. un permanent forum on indigenous issues, 1 of 3 bodies mandate oversee issues related indigenous peoples, held first session in 2002.