Identity area
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- 1965-1973 (Creation)
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9 files.
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Administrative history
As part of the Department of Social Affairs, the Division of Human Rights was headed by John Humphrey from 1946 to 1966. The Division was responsible in the Secretariat for the work of the Commission on Human Rights, which had been given a clear mandate by the Economic and Social Council to draft the international bill of rights. It was responsible as well for the Commission on the Status of Women, the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination, the Sub-Commission on Freedom of Information and the Ad Hoc Commission on Questions of Prisoners of War.
In 1962, the Division was composed of 5 units manned by 49 staff members. Due to lack of office space, United Nations New York approached United Nations Office Geneva to explore the possibility of housing the Division in Geneva, to which UNOG expressed its willingness. In April, the Acting Secretary-General decided that it would not be advisable to move the Division to Geneva at that time. Eventually, the Division was relocated to Geneva in 1973 (ref G.IIA 5/36). From 06.1974 the Division of Human Rights was officially transferred from United Nations Headquarters to United Nations Office Geneva.
In 1982 the Division of Human Rights (DHR) became the Centre for Human Rights (CHR) and shortly thereafter (01.1983) the Head of the CHR was reclassified to the level of Under-Secretary-General. In 1987, the Secretary-General designated the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva as the head of the Centre for Human Rights. In 1992 the Assistant Secretary-General was appointed as head of the Centre, reporting directly to the Secretary-General.
In 1994 the first High Commissioner for Human Rights was appointed and in 1997 the Centre for Human Rights and the Office of the High Commissioner were consolidated into a single Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
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In 1965 the Commission on Human Rights discussed "The Question of punishment of war criminals and of persons who have committed crimes against humanity." The French and several other delegates called on the Secretary-General to make a study of the legal problems raised by war crimes and crimes against humanity and the application of statutes of limitations thereto.
In March 1966 the Commission on Human Rights passed a subsequent resolution calling for the preparation of a draft Convention to the effect that no statutory limitation shall apply to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Secretary-General was called upon to carry out a study as regards ensuring the arrest, extradition and punishment of persons responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity and the exchange of documentation thereto.
In 1968 the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 13 (XXIV) entitled "Questions of the punishment of war criminals and of persons who have committed crimes against humanity". In this resolution the Commission requested the Secretary-General to submit the study requested under ECOSOC resolution 1158 (XLI) in time for consideration by the 25th session of the Commission and to include in that study the examination of criteria for determining compensation to the victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In 1969 the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 9 (XXV) entitled "Question of the punishment of war criminals and of persons who have committed crimes against humanity". In this resolution governments were further requested to provide the Secretary-General with information concerning the arrest, extradition and punishment of persons guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity, a reiteration of the earlier request for information of October 1966. In addition, information concerning the criteria for determining compensation was requested, as well as any comments on the study entitled "Study as regards ensuring the arrest, extradition and punishment of persons responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity and the exchange of documents relating thereto."
The records of the sub-series consist of correspondence related to the work of the Division in the collection of information from governments and experts in addressing the question of the punishment of war criminals and persons who have committed crimes against humanity.
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Restricted
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- English
- French
- German
- Russian
- Spanish
- zz
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Microfilm reference number: ARR 1157/Reels 16, 105
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Protection period to: 1993-12-31
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Archivist's note
Protection period duration: 20
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Physical usability: Without limits
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Term of protection: UN Classified (20)