The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, UN Economic and Social Council and UN Commission on Human Rights are the UN bodies mandated with human rights affairs. Among them the UN Commission on Human Rights is the primary organ. And the Sub-commission of Human Rights is an expert organ of CHR.

1. Commission on Human Rights: Founded in February 1946 by ECOSOC resolution, it is a functional committee of the ECOSOC. Its members are elected by the Council on the basis of principle of equitable geographical distribution. It had 18 members in the initial period, and was expanded to 43 in 1979. Since its 48thsession, the Commission has 53 members (12 from Asia, 15 from Africa, 11 from Latin Americaand Caribbeanregion, 5 from East Europe, 10 from West Europeand other regions). Their term is three years.

The CHR meets for a six-week long spring plenary session in Genevaeach year. In addition to the 53 members, other UN members, non-members, specialized bodies and agencies, regional organizations, national liberation movements recognized by the UN and NGOs that enjoy consultative status in the ECOSOC may attend the session as observers.

2. Sub-commission on Human Rights: Established in 1947 under ECOSOC resolution 9 (II) adopted on June 21, 1946, it is one of the essential organs under the CHR. Its original name was Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, and under a 1999 ECOSOC resolution was changed to the present name: Sub-commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights with the mandate to study vital issues that could promote human rights and report to the CHR. It now has 26 experts, of which 7 from Africa, 5 from Asia, 5 from Latin America, 3 from East Europeand 6 from West Europe(each member can have one alternate member). All of them serve in personal capacity. Under ECOSOC resolution 1986/35 adopted in 1986, every two years half of the Sub-commission members are subject to re-election and all candidates are to be nominated by their governments. New members are elected by secret ballot in CHR for a term of four years.

Annex:

1. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: The post was established by UNGA resolution 48/141 in December 1993 during the 48thsession of the UNGA. Under that resolution, the High Commissioner is tasked with coordinating UN human rights activities under the mandate of the UN Secretary–General. The current High Commissioner is Sergio Vieira De Mello from Brazil.

2. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: In October 1997, the 52ndsession of the UNGA passed the proposal put forward by UN Secretary- General Kofi Anan concerning the restructure of the UN human rights secretariat by merging the UN Center for Human Rights and UN Office of Human Rights Commissioner into a Geneva-based UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights tasked with UN human rights affairs with an office in UN Headquarters in New York.undefined