Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1962-1968 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
12 files.
Context area
Name of creator
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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Content and structure area
Scope and content
In 1962 the Sub-Commission initiated a study on the matter of discrimination against people born out of wedlock and ECOSOC approved the decision in resolution 888 C (XXXIV). The Sub-Commission appointed Judge Voitto Saario (Finland) Rapporteur to undertake the study. After some preliminary research, Mr. Saario prepared a draft outline to be used in the collection of information for the study. The information obtained from governments and NGOs was analyzed with the view to the formulation of general principles for the elimination of discrimination against persons born out of wedlock, "bearing in mind the necessity of preserving the family as an institution".
In 1967, the Sub-Commission considered the final text of the study and adopted 16 draft principles dealing with measures to be taken by governments to eliminate all discrimination against children born out of wedlock.
The records consist of correspondence with regard to the study and include submissions from governments.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
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Numeric file code.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Archive Employee
Restricted
Conditions governing reproduction
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- English
- French
- German
- Spanish
- zz
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Microfilm reference number: ARR 1157/Reels 83 - 84
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Notes area
Note
Protection period to: 1988-12-31
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Archivist's note
Protection period duration: 20
Archivist's note
Protection period note:
Archivist's note
Permission:
Archivist's note
Physical usability: Without limits
Archivist's note
Term of protection: UN Classified (20)