Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1953.05-1958.11 (Creation)
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One file
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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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The records contain correspondence from the Director-General of the ILO to the Secretary-Genneral with regard to the draft convention on forced labor, with particular reference to the question of the inclusion of a text addressing concentration camps and the deportation of national minorites. Members of he Division of Human Rights expressed surprise that the Secretary-General was consulted on this matter alone, in spite of previious assurances from the Director-General to keep the Division "in constant touch in successive stages of the drafting". The question raised further concern as it was considered to be an issue solely within the domain of human rights, and hence an "invasion of UN responsibilities" (Humphrey, 07.1956).
While the question of the abolition of concentration camos and the deportation of national minorities was not included in the final draft of the Convention, the International Labour Conference adopted a resolution in 1957 to the effect that the Secretary-General consider what measures might be adopted to bring it about.
The file includes the 1956 and 1957 versions of the Draft International Labour Convention on Forced Labour. The Abolition of Forced Labour Convention was adopted in 1957 by the International Labour Conference.
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- English
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Microfilm reference number: ARR 1157/Reel 94 /Sequence 14
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Protection period to: 2002-11-30
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Archivist's note
Protection period duration: 44
Archivist's note
Protection period note: Series 251/9(1) series declassified by OHCHR June 2003.
Archivist's note
Permission: No permission necessary.
Archivist's note
Physical usability: Without limits
Archivist's note
Term of protection: Accessible (0)