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- 1968.01-1969.10 (Creation)
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2 folders
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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. At its 844th meeting on 9 April 1965 resolution 3 (XXI) was passed requesting that the Secretary-General undertake such a study, to be discussed at the next regular meeting of the Commission.
To this end, the Division of Human Rights drafted a note verbale in which the Secretary-General requested governments to provide information pertaining to the study, including an explicative statement outlining the law and practice of the state as well as decisions relating to punishment, the application of statute of limitations and extradition.
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. These records consist of correspondence with governments and experts related to this task and include several letters from the jurist Jean Graven.
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- French
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Microfilm reference number: ARR 1157/Reel 16/Sequence 4
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Protection period to: 1989-10-31
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Protection period duration: 20
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Permission: No permission necessary.
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Physical usability: Without limits
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Term of protection: UN Classified (20)