preview

The United Nations and Human Rights: Has the United Nations failed in its determination to support and advocate for human rights?

Better Essays

I. Introduction
The supporting and advocating on behalf of human rights has been one of the primary principles of the United Nations. Since its founding in 1945, the United Nations has worked to preserve the basic human rights and fundamental freedoms it believes to be deserved of by every man, woman, and child on the planet. Throughout the near seventy years of the United Nations’ existence, it has been challenged with an array of questions, events, and claims regarding the possible violation of human rights. In order to combat these claims, the body has established two organizations to deal with matters of human rights. The first being the Commission Human Rights, was the original organization, founded in 1946. The Commission existed …show more content…

This, in turn, helps to advance the freedoms of all persons, generating improvements in the overall quality of life that each person may receive as a result from having these international rights and freedoms.
In order for a complete analysis, the structure of the United Nations itself will be analyzed. In addition to this, the protocol for the intervention of the United Nations on behalf of human rights will be investigated, as will a series of issues regarding human rights violations in China and Burma (now Myanmar), and whether or not the United Nations, if involved, was able to support and advocate for human rights.
II. A Summary and Description of the United Nations
Purpose, Functions, and Structure of the United Nations
Before we are able to determine the success or failure of the United Nations in its determination to advocate and support human rights on an international scale, it is imperative that we come to an understanding of the purpose, functions, and structure of the United Nations.
Founded in 1945, the function and principles of the United Nations are determined in the United Nations Charter which was ratified on 24 October of the same year. One of the primary principles of the United Nations, as outlined in Article 1 of the United Nations Charter is:
“…To achieve international

Get Access