United Nations Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Human rights=== One of the UN's primary purposes is "promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion", and member states pledge to undertake "joint and separate action" to protect these rights.<ref name=CharterIX>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-ix/index.html |title=United Nations Charter: Chapter IX |publisher=United Nations |access-date=2 November 2017 |date=17 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109083248/http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-ix/index.html |archive-date=9 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Charter1>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-i/index.html |title=United Nations Charter: Chapter I |publisher=United Nations |access-date=2 November 2017 |date=17 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028091648/http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-i/index.html |archive-date=28 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Eleanor Roosevelt UDHR (27758131387).jpg|thumb|left|[[Eleanor Roosevelt]] with the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]], 1949]] 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 [[RenΓ© 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=178β182}} 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=[[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> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page