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68-531: HRC Resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007 and HRC decision 6/102 of 27 September 2007 elaborated on the UPR's functions in its first cycle from 2008 - 2012. For the second and subsequent cycles, a few amendments were introduced to the UPR by HRC Resolution 16/21 of 12 April 2011 and HRC decision 17/119 of 19 July 2011, after a review by the HRC (for further details, see HRC review process below). HRC resolution 5/1 provides that

136-760: A charter and constituent treaty , its rules and obligations are binding on all members and supersede those of other treaties. During the Second World War , the Allies — formally known as the United Nations —agreed to establish a new postwar international organization . Pursuant to this goal, the UN Charter was discussed, prepared, and drafted during the San Francisco Conference that began 25 April 1945, which involved most of

204-423: A collision course, we must see them as complementary and mutually supportive imperatives". The report concluded that "Business as usual is not an option". The governance of the multilateral system has historically been complex and fragmented. This has limited the capacity of ECOSOC to influence international policies in trade, finance, and investment. Reform proposals aim to enhance the relevance and contribution of

272-718: A few other criteria. The basis of country reviews is: (a) the Charter of the UN ; (b) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ; (c) human rights instruments to which a State is party; and (d) voluntary pledges and commitments made by the State, including those undertaken when presenting their candidature for election to the HRC. Country reviews also take into account applicable international humanitarian law . Country reviews are based on three documents: In decision 6/102,

340-486: A majority of the other signatory states, and set forth related procedures, such as providing certified copies to ratifying governments. United Nations Economic and Social Council The United Nations Economic and Social Council ( ECOSOC ) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations , responsible for coordinating the economic and social fields of the organization, specifically in regards to

408-663: A system where different organizations maintain different types of relationships with the Council. For example, in the 1950s the members of ECOSOC were responsible for granting a state admission to UNESCO , but now this is done by the members of UNESCO themselves. The following is a list of the specialized agencies reporting to the Council: In a report issued in early July 2011, the UN called for spending nearly US$ 2  trillion on green technologies to prevent what it termed "a major planetary catastrophe", warning that "It

476-546: Is complicated by the fact that they are clustered together in the Working Group report, the NGO UPR Info has calculated the first cycle of the UPR to have provided a total of 21,356 recommendations and 599 voluntary pledges. Each review is facilitated by a group of three States, known as the “troika”, that serve as rapporteurs. The troika is responsible for receiving the advanced questions from UN member States to

544-520: Is convened under the auspices of the Council every July. The members of ECOSOC are responsible for electing the executive board of UNICEF , the council of the United Nations Development Programme , the committee of UNHCR , and various commissions and other bodies under its jurisdiction. ECOSOC is also responsible for tasks such as reviewing and updating the UN list of least developed countries . The president of

612-462: Is given to the State under review to discuss its domestic human rights framework, measures taken to promote and protect human rights in country, human rights issues of particular national pertinence, and steps taken to address and redress violations. It is also an opportunity for the State to present voluntary human rights pledges and commitments. An interactive dialogue of 140 minutes follows the State's presentation, during which UN member States question

680-498: Is not a member of the Security Council or any state which is not a Member of the United Nations, if it is a party to a dispute under consideration by the Security Council, shall be invited to participate, without vote, in the discussion relating to the dispute. The Security Council shall lay down such conditions as it deems just for the participation of a state which is not a Member of the United Nations. Chapter VII includes

748-442: Is rapidly expanding energy use, mainly driven by fossil fuels , that explains why humanity is on the verge of breaching planetary sustainability boundaries through global warming , biodiversity loss , and disturbance of the nitrogen-cycle balance and other measures of the sustainability of the earth 's ecosystem ". UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon added: "Rather than viewing growth and sustainability as competing goals on

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816-525: The Atlantic Charter . It set out (1) that these countries do not seek aggrandizement, (2) that no territorial changes be made against the wishes of the people, (2) the right to self-determination for all peoples , (3) restoration of self-government to those deprived of it, (4) furtherance of access for all states to trade and raw materials "needed for their economic prosperity", (5) global cooperation to secure better economic and social conditions for

884-804: The Soviet Union , the United Kingdom , and the United States —and a majority of the other signatories; this is considered the official starting date of the United Nations, with the first session of the General Assembly, representing all 51 initial members, opening in London the following January. The General Assembly formally recognized 24 October as United Nations Day in 1947, and declared it an official international holiday in 1971. With 193 parties, most countries have now ratified

952-1076: The UN system , including its six principal organs : the Secretariat , the General Assembly , the Security Council , the Economic and Social Council , the International Court of Justice , and the Trusteeship Council . The UN Charter mandates the UN and its member states to maintain international peace and security, uphold international law, achieve "higher standards of living" for their citizens, address "economic, social, health, and related problems", and promote "universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race , sex , language , or religion ". As

1020-548: The fifteen specialized agencies , the eight functional commissions, and the five regional commissions under its jurisdiction. ECOSOC serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states and the United Nations System. It has 54 members. In addition to a rotating membership of 54 UN member states, over 1,600 nongovernmental organizations have consultative status with

1088-527: The superpowers to assign ECOSOC seats. Regardless, with 4 exceptions out of 102 elections ( see list ), a relatively stable pattern emerged and held until 1960: As the number of United Nations members grew with decolonization , the pattern began to break down starting in 1961, with nations in Africa winning elections to seats formerly held by Western Europe and the Republic of China (Taiwan) . In 1965,

1156-692: The Axis powers—led by the "Big Four" powers of China, the Soviet Union, the U.K., and the U.S.—signed the Declaration by United Nations , which formalized the anti-Axis alliance and reaffirmed the purposes and principles of the Atlantic Charter. The following day, representatives of twenty-two other nations added their signatures. The term "United Nations" became synonymous with the Allies for

1224-514: The Charter and it is the first international document regarding human rights. The following chapters deal with the enforcement powers of UN bodies: The principles and conceptual framework of the United Nations were formulated incrementally through a series of conferences by the Allied nations during the Second World War . The Declaration of St James's Palace , issued in London on 12 June 1941,

1292-435: The Charter by a vote of 89–2 on 28 July 1945. By 24 October 1945, enough nations had ratified the Charter to officially bring the United Nations into existence. The Preamble to the treaty reads as follows: WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED AND FOR THESE ENDS HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS. Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in

1360-464: The Charter was amended to increase the size of ECOSOC to 27 seats, and the Regional Groups were formally introduced. The seat distribution became: In 1973, the Charter was amended again to increase the size of ECOSOC to 54 seats. The seat distribution became: Participation on a continuing basis: Participation on an ad hoc basis: The following are the active functional commission of

1428-419: The Charter. The Charter consists of a preamble and 111 articles grouped into 19 chapters. The preamble consists of two principal parts. The first part contains a general call for the maintenance of peace and international security and respect for human rights. The second part of the preamble is a declaration in a contractual style that the governments of the peoples of the United Nations have agreed to

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1496-424: The Council in its resolution 6/17, should be strengthened and operationalized in order to provide a source of financial and technical assistance to help countries to implement the recommendations emanating from their review. States may request the United Nations representation at the national or regional level to assist them in the implementation of the follow-up to their review. Financial and technical assistance for

1564-574: The Council is elected for a one-year term and chosen from the small or medium sized states represented on the Council at the beginning of each new session. The presidency rotates among the United Nations Regional Groups to ensure equal representation. His Excellency Bob Rae was elected the eightieth President of the Economic and Social Council for the 2025 Session on 25 July 2024. Paula Narváez , Representative of Chile,

1632-745: The Council to participate in the work of the United Nations. ECOSOC holds one four-week session each year in July, and since 1998 has also held an annual meeting in April with finance ministers of heading key committees of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Additionally, the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), which reviews the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ,

1700-554: The Council: The following commissions were disbanded by the Council and replaced by other bodies: The following are the active regional commissions of the Council: The following are some of the other bodies that the Council oversees in some capacity: The specialized agencies of the United Nations are autonomous organizations working within the United Nations System, meaning that while they report their activities to

1768-493: The Economic and Social Council, they are mostly free to their own devices. Some were created before the United Nations existed and were integrated into the system, others were created by the League of Nations and were integrated by its successor, while others were created by the United Nations itself to meet emerging needs. Each agency must negotiate with the Council as to what their relationship will look and work like. This leads to

1836-525: The HRC adopted as resolution 16/21 the outcome of its review of the work and functioning of the HRC, later followed by HRC decision 17/119 of 19 July 2011 with the following changes to the UPR: Charter of the UN The Charter of the United Nations ( UN ) is the foundational treaty of the United Nations . It establishes the purposes, governing structure, and overall framework of

1904-406: The HRC and was reviewed on 29 October 2013, but the HRC missed the opportunity to define what "persistent non-cooperation" is. The rules governing the participation of NHRIs and NGOs at the HRC, and therefore in the UPR mechanism, are prescribed by resolution 5/1, which states that their participation shall be based on the 'practices observed by the [former] Commission on Human Rights, while ensuring

1972-480: The HRC provided guidelines for the preparation of information under the UPR. It specifies that States, in preparing national reports, should address/provide: The Working Group on the UPR is composed by the 47 Member States of the HRC, chaired by the HRC President and conducts country reviews. The Working Group held its first review in 2008. It allocates three and a half hours to each review, 70 minutes of which

2040-454: The HRC's Working Group on the UPR, with 14 States reviewed at each session. The HRC determined the order of review for the first UPR cycle (2008-2012) on 21 September 2007 through the drawing of lots and the same order will be maintained during the second and subsequent cycles. The first order of review was instructed by the resolution 5/1 requirements that all 47 member States of the HRC be reviewed during their term of membership, in addition to

2108-722: The High-Level Political Forum from 2016 onwards after the new post-MDG/post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals are agreed upon. Subsequent proposals by the High-Level Panel Report on System-Wide Coherence in November 2006 aimed to establish a forum within the ECOSOC as a counter-model to the exclusive clubs of the G8 and G20 . The Forum was to comprise 27 heads of state (L27, corresponding to half of ECOSOC's membership) to meet annually and provide international leadership in

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2176-628: The Military Staff Committee referred to in Article 47, plans to be submitted to the Members of the United Nations for the establishment of a system for the regulation of armaments. VOTING Article 27 PROCEDURE Article 28 Article 29 The Security Council may establish as such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions. Article 30 The Security Council shall adopt its own rules of

2244-414: The State and make recommendations towards the improvement of its human rights situation and performance. It is worth noting that all 193 UN member states (both HRC members and not) can take the floor. A wide variety of issues have been addressed during the country reviews and potentially all human rights issues could be addressed during this session. While the counting of the actual number of recommendations

2312-453: The State concerned, States are encouraged to conduct broad consultations with all relevant stakeholders in this regard. States are encouraged to provide the Council, on a voluntary basis, with a midterm update on follow-up to accepted recommendations. As of 20 February 2013, 28 countries so far have provided the HRC with an implementation report. According to Resolution 16/21, other relevant stakeholders are encouraged to include information on

2380-624: The U.S., U.K., and Soviet Union resolved the lingering debate regarding the voting structure of the proposed Security Council, calling for a "Conference of United Nations" in San Francisco on 25 April 1945 to "prepare the charter of such an organization, along the lines proposed in the formal conversations of Dumbarton Oaks." The San Francisco Conference , formally the United Nations Conference on International Organization (UNCIO), began as scheduled on 25 April 1945 with

2448-452: The UPR mechanism, the HRC will address, as appropriate, cases of persistent non-cooperation with the mechanism. The first case where persistent non-cooperation was discussed is Israel's UPR. Israel was not reviewed as scheduled on 29 January 2013. As a consequence, the HRC discussed in March and June 2013 the issue of "persistent non-cooperation". Eventually, Israel resumed its cooperation with

2516-533: The UPR should: The objectives of the UN-UPR are: HRC resolution 16/21 further provides that the second and subsequent cycles should focus on the implementation of the accepted recommendations and the developments of the human rights situation in the State under review. While the first UPR operated on a four-year cycle, the second was extended to four and a half years, and the third lasts five years. Forty-two States are now reviewed each year during three sessions of

2584-399: The United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter. Article 26 In order to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic resources, the Security Council shall be responsible for formulating, with the assistance of

2652-505: The United Nations regional groups. Outgoing members are eligible for immediate re-election, and some seats are held by de facto permanent members. In 1945 when the United Nations Charter was originally signed, the Economic and Social Council consisted of 18 seats. The formal concept of the United Nations Regional Groups did not yet exist, and unlike the Security Council , there was no "gentlemen's agreement" between

2720-411: The assessment of these implementations by 66 countries. A second publication followed in 2014, titled Beyond Promises , assessed 165 countries and shared best practices observed from States, NHRIs, and NGOs. A third publication, released in 2016 and dubbed The Butterfly Effect , aimed to spread UPR best practices and inspire all actors. After exhausting all efforts to encourage a State to cooperate with

2788-484: The city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations. Although the Preamble is an integral part of the Charter, it does not set out any of the rights or obligations of member states; its purpose is to serve as an interpretative guide for

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2856-436: The council. A major reform was approved by the 2005 World Summit based on proposals submitted by secretary-general Kofi Annan . The Summit aimed to establish ECOSOC as a quality platform for high-level engagement among member states and with international financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society on global trends, policies, and action. It resolved to hold biennial high-level Development Cooperation Forums at

2924-457: The country under review. The second role of the troika is to prepare an outcome document on the review, which includes a summary of the review proceedings, recommendations suggested by States, conclusions, and voluntary commitments presented by the State under review. The outcome document is prepared with the assistance of the UPR secretariat and the recommendations contained in the outcome of the review should preferably be clustered thematically with

2992-496: The development area. This proposal however, was not approved by the General Assembly. The Economic and Social Council Chamber in the United Nations Conference Building was a gift from Sweden . It was conceived by Swedish architect Sven Markelius , one of the 11 architects in the international team that designed the UN headquarters. Wood from Swedish pine trees was used in the delegates' area for

3060-481: The drafting process, with over 400 meetings convened in the subsequent weeks. Following multiple reviews, debates, and revisions, a final full meeting was held on 25 June 1945 with the final proposed draft posed to attendees. Following unanimous approval, the Charter was signed by delegates the following day in Veterans' Memorial Hall . The United States Senate , as part of the 79th United States Congress , ratified

3128-558: The duration of the war, and was considered the formal name under which they were fighting. The Declaration by United Nations formed the basis of the United Nations Charter; virtually all nations that acceded to it would be invited to take part in the 1945 San Francisco Conference to discuss and prepare the Charter. On 30 October 1943, the Declaration of the Four Nations , one of the four Moscow Declarations ,

3196-601: The establishment of other "organs" of the organization, such as the General Assembly, International Court of Justice, and Secretariat. The conference was led by the Big Four , with delegates from other nation participating in the consideration and formulation of these principles. At the Paris peace conference in 1919, it was Prime Minister Jan Smuts of South Africa and Lord Cecil of the United Kingdom who came up with

3264-479: The follow-up to the preceding review in their contributions. The summary of the information provided by other relevant stakeholders should contain, where appropriate, a separate section for contributions by the national human rights institution of the State under review that is accredited in full compliance with the Paris Principles. The Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance, established by

3332-469: The full involvement and consent of the State under review and the States that made the recommendations. Thirty minutes are allocated to the adoption of the outcome document at a later stage in the same Working Group session, during which the State under review is given a preliminary opportunity to indicate whether it supports the recommendations suggested to it by States as well as the conclusions reflected in

3400-648: The goal of drafting a charter that would create a new international organization. The Big Four, which sponsored the event, invited all forty-six signatories to the Declaration by United Nations. Conference delegates invited four more nations: the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Argentina and recently liberated Denmark. The conference was perhaps

3468-419: The implementation of the review should support national needs and priorities, as may be reflected in national implementation plans. The NGO UPR Info has from 2011 to 2014 undertaken 165 assessments at a two-years distance after the review in order to see how the recommendations (the main UPR outcome) are implemented, and what is the real effect of the UPR on the ground. In 2012 it published its first study on

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3536-499: The largest international gathering up to that point, with 850 delegates, along with advisers and organizers, for a total of 3,500 participants. An additional 2,500 representatives from media and various civil society groups were also in attendance. Plenary meetings involving all delegates were chaired on a rotational basis by the lead delegates of the Big Four. Several committees were formed to facilitate and address different aspects of

3604-594: The moribund League of Nations . Pursuant to the Moscow Declarations, from 21 August 1944 to 7 October 1944, the U.S. hosted the Dumbarton Oaks Conference to develop a blueprint for what would become the United Nations. Many of the rules, principles, and provisions of the UN Charter were proposed during the conference, including the structure of the UN system; the creation of a "Security Council" to prevent future war and conflict; and

3672-432: The most effective contribution of these entities'. While the UPR is an intergovernmental process, a number of opportunities for contribution are available to non-governmental stakeholders. These include: In resolution 60/251, the General Assembly required the HRC to review and report on its work and functioning after its first five years. In October 2009, the HRC established the open-ended intergovernmental working group on

3740-600: The national-leadership level, transforming the high-level segment of the Council to review trends in international development cooperation and promote greater coherence in development activities. At the Summit it was also decided to hold annual ministerial-level substantive reviews to assess progress in achieving internationally agreed on development goals (particularly the Millennium Development Goals ). These "Annual Ministerial Reviews" will be replaced by

3808-431: The outcome document. Once adopted, the outcome document is transferred to the HRC for discussion and adoption in plenary. In the intervening period between the Working Group and plenary sessions, the reviewed State is expected to confirm which UPR recommendations it accepts and does not accept. The UPR is a standing item on the HRC's agenda (item 6). At each HRC session, time is allocated to the consideration and adoption of

3876-408: The outcome documents transferred from the Working Group on the UPR. An hour is allocated to the adoption of each document, during which the reviewed State is offered the opportunity to present replies to questions or issues not sufficiently addressed during the interactive dialogue at the Working Group. HRC member and observer States are also given the opportunity to express their views on the outcome of

3944-405: The procedure, including the method of selecting its president. Article 31 Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member are specially affected. Article 32 Any Member of the United Nations which

4012-561: The provisions of the Charter through the highlighting of some of the core motives of the founders of the organization. The Purposes of the United Nations are The Organization and its Members, in pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article 1, shall act in accordance with the following Principles: Chapter II of the United Nations Charter deals with membership of the United Nations organization COMPOSITION Article 23 FUNCTIONS and POWERS Article 24 Article 25 The Members of

4080-480: The review before the HRC takes action on it. NHRIs with ‘A’ status and NGOs in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) have the opportunity to make ‘general comments’ before the adoption of the outcome report. This is the only opportunity for civil society to take the floor during the UPR. While the outcome of the review, as a cooperative mechanism, should be implemented primarily by

4148-458: The review of the work and functioning of the HRC (composed by the 47 member States of the HRC) to lead its review process. Chaired by the then HRC President (Ambassador Sihasak Phuangketkeow of Thailand), the Working Group met for two substantive sessions. The first Working Group session took place on 25–29 October 2010; the second session was held on 7, 17-18, and 23–24 February 2011. On 25 March 2011,

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4216-759: The right to self-defence . The General Assembly has the power to amend the UN Charter. Amendments adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the Assembly need to be ratified by two-thirds of the Member-States, including all the Permanent Members of the Security Council. Provided that the Charter would enter into force once ratified by the Permanent Five members of the United Nations Security Council and

4284-508: The structure of the League of Nations with the League being divided into a League Assembly consisting of all the member states and a League Council consisting of the great powers. The same design that Smuts and Cecil had devised for the League of Nations was copied for the United Nations with a Security Council made up of the great powers and a General Assembly of the UN member states. The subsequent Yalta Conference in February 1945 between

4352-496: The world's sovereign nations. Following two-thirds approval of each part, the final text was unanimously adopted by delegates and opened for signature on 26 June 1945; it was signed in San Francisco, United States , by 50 of the 51 original member countries. The Charter entered into force on 24 October 1945, following ratification by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — China , France ,

4420-514: The world, (5) the "destruction of the Nazi tyranny" and freedom from fear and want, (7) freedom of the seas , and (8) "abandonment of the use of force" by disarming nations of "aggression" and establishing a wider Anglo-American world "security system" under mutual disarmament after the war. Many of these principles would inspire or form part of the UN Charter. The following year, on 1 January 1942, representatives of thirty nations formally at war with

4488-447: Was elected as the seventy-ninth president of the Council on 27 July 2023. She succeeded Lachezara Stoeva , who was elected as the seventy-eighth president of the Council on 25 July 2022, succeeding Collen Vixen Kelapile of Botswana. The Council consists of 54 Member States, which are elected yearly by the General Assembly for overlapping three-year terms. Seats on the Council are allocated ensuring equitable geographic rotation among

4556-432: Was signed by the foreign ministers of the Big Four, calling for the establishment of a "general international organization, based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all peace-loving states, and open to membership by all such states, large and small, for the maintenance of international peace and security." This was the first formal announcement that a new international organization was being contemplated to replace

4624-470: Was the first joint statement of the declared goals and principles of the Allies, and the first to express a vision for a postwar world order. The Declaration called for the "willing cooperation of free peoples" so that "all may enjoy economic and social security". Roughly two months later, the United States and the United Kingdom issued a joint, eight-point statement elaborating such goals, known as

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