- What are human rights?
- Human rights are basic rights and freedoms that belong to all human beings. Legal systems vary across the world but human rights are universal. They are inherent to us all, regardless of our nationality, gender, ethnic origin, skin color, religious beliefs, the language we speak or any other group or category to which we may belong.
Throughout history, a number of attempts had been made by various countries to write human rights into law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, was the first legal document with a global reach to set out the fundamental human rights which must be universally protected. The Declaration’s 30 articles provided the building blocks and set down the principles that subsequent human rights treaties and other legal instruments would follow.
The UDHR, together with the 2 covenants - the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - make up the International Bill of Rights. - What does the United Nations do to promote and protect human rights?
- The United Nations as a whole and OHCHR specifically support and conduct various forms of human rights monitoring, reporting, advocacy, research, education and technical assistance to States. OHCHR was created and mandated by the UN General Assembly (resolution 48/141) in 1993 as the leading UN entity on human rights. The High Commissioner and OHCHR have a unique role to:
Promote and protect all human rights: We speak out objectively in the face of human rights violations and help elaborate the standards that are used to evaluate human rights progress worldwide.
Help empower people: Our research, education, and advocacy activities, contributes to the increased awareness and engagement by the international community and the public on human rights issues. This means thousands of people in all regions of the world are empowered to claim their rights.
Assist Governments: Through our field presences, we help prevent abuses and contribute to defusing situations that could lead to conflict. Our monitoring and analysis feeds sensitive decision-making and development programming. We also provide capacity-building and legal advice to thousands, supporting the development and judicious enactment of laws and policies the world around.
Inject a human rights perspective into all UN programmes: We mainstream human rights into all UN programmes to ensure that peace and security, development, and human rights - the three pillars of the UN - are interlinked and mutually reinforced.
OHCHR also provides support to a number of human rights mechanisms established by the United Nations Charter or treaties. The charter-based bodies include the Human Rights Council, Special Procedures, the Universal Periodic Review and Independent Investigations. The ten human rights Treaty Bodies, made up of committees of independent experts, monitor implementation of the core international human rights treaties. Different monitoring activities and mechanisms reinforce and complement each other. Some important human rights mechanisms are:
Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. It discusses thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.
The human rights treaty bodies are committees of independent experts that monitor implementation of the core international human rights treaties. Each State party to a treaty has an obligation to take steps to ensure that everyone in the State can enjoy the rights set out in the treaty. There are ten human rights treaty bodies composed of independent experts of recognized competence in human rights, who are nominated and elected for fixed renewable terms of four years by State parties.
The Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts who report and advise on country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are elected for three-year mandates and are not paid.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations.
UN-mandated commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions and investigations respond to situations of serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. They promote accountability for these violations, and counter impunity. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine was established by the Human Rights Council on 4 March 2022 according to resolution 49/1 to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights, violations of international humanitarian law and related crimes in the context of the aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation.
- What is the difference between OHCHR and HRMMU?
- Headquartered in Geneva, OHCHR (or UN Human Rights), is the leading UN agency on human rights. It represents the world's commitment to promote and protect the full range of human rights set out in the UDHR. Its reach and mandate are global.
OHCHR is led by the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Volker Türk of Austria is the current High Commissioner for Human Rights, and took up his duties 17 October 2022.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU or the Mission) is a part of OHCHR and implements its mandate in Ukraine. OHCHR deployed HRMMU in March 2014 at the invitation of the Government of Ukraine.
Read more about our Mission here. - Is HRMMU as a part of the UN in Ukraine?
- Yes, HRMMU is a member of the UN Country Team in Ukraine and works closely with the other agencies, funds and programmes present in or working on Ukraine. The purpose of the UN Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) is to coordinate the efforts of the UN Country Team operating in Ukraine to ensure provision of efficient and effective assistance to accelerate the country’s steady progress towards social and economic development, observance of the world’s democratic standards and facilitation of Ukraine’s-world integration process. The UN RC in Ukraine is the designated representative of the Secretary-General and aims to bring together different resident and non-resident UN agencies, funds and programmes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities at a country level. Working closely with the national government in Ukraine, the RCO advocates for the interests and mandates of the UN while drawing on the support and guidance of the entire UN family. The important role of the RC in responding to national needs and priorities includes supporting the Government’s efforts for a coordinated, multidisciplinary response aimed at implementation and monitoring of assistance strategies and programmes.
More about UN in Ukraine here. - How can I report about a human rights violation?
- If you are a victim or witness of human rights violations you may reach out to us via:
E-mail: ohchr-hrmmu@un.org
Phone number: +38(044)2535966
Telegram (messages only): +38(050)3746708
Viber (messages only): +38(050)3746708
Please note that due to limited capacity, the Mission will conduct interviews of victims and witnesses on only specific issues. - How can I join the Mission?
- See the open vacancies here.
