CONCLUSION: HOW TO MAKE THE CHR MORE EFFECTIVE

Former High Commissioner for Human Rights Vieira De Mello commented on the grave functional problems faced by the CHR:

"This is not.the most effective way of operating; it means.gravely weakening the Commission's purpose, because it leads to a perception of hypocrisy, cynicism and resignation. The topics being dealt with are of surpassing seriousness. There really is nothing more serious than the protection of human rights. Yet at times I have felt that, in the course of competitive debate, delegates were losing sight of the noble goal of protecting human rights, in the very body whose duty it is to promote them. Such moments were, of course, the exception not the rule. Still, they must be addressed, because of an intrinsic obligation to do so, but also to guard the Commission's image before the global public."

The Commission has thus far played a critical role in creating an unsurpassed international understanding of human rights.  Firmly establishing normative standards of human rights, along with taking revolutionary strides by allowing the UN to criticize State violators of human rights, are achievements that significantly advance the UN Charter's goal of protecting "human rights and fundamental freedoms for all." However, unless the Commission makes changes now to safeguard its effective functioning in the future, the Commission may sacrifice itself and all it has accomplished.

Citizens for Global Solutions recommends the following changes at the Commission on Human Rights:

• Shift the focus of the CHR from developing normative standards to enforcing those human rights standards already recognized as universal.

• Establish conditions for membership on the CHR in order to ensure that all members are true proponents of human rights.

• Revise the regional groupings system and replace it with a system based on political ideologies.

• Support the formation of a democracy caucus.

• Delineate distinctions between civil society, the private sector, and the governmental sector in the NGO accreditation process

• Develop methods of involving civil society representatives into the informal decision-making processes of the CHR.

• Devise rules limiting the use of no-action motions.

• Extend the annual working time of the CHR and allocate more time to the Special Procedures and civil society.

• Make the Special Procedures more effective: draw up guidelines for their work, integrate the results of their work into CHR resolutions, and increase their influence.

• Move the meetings of the CHR to New York to allow interaction with the parent UN bodies in charge of approving and funding the work of the CHR.

Click the links below for further information about the Commission on Human Rights.

The Commission on Human Rights

A Brief Overview of the CHR

History of the CHR

Membership in the CHR

Participation by Civil Society

Agenda and Resolutions

The Use of Special Procedures

Other UN Human Rights Bodies