Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Basic overview
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is a department of the United Nations Secretariat.
Mandate: Promotion and protection of human rights guaranteed under international law.
Normative basis:
International human rights law
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Establishment
Established on 20 December 1993.
Created by the United Nations General Assembly.
Set up in the aftermath of the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights.
Leadership
Headed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Current High Commissioner:
Volker Türk (Austria)
Took office on 8 September 2022.
Predecessor:
Michelle Bachelet (Chile)
Functions
Coordinates human rights activities across the UN system.
Acts as the secretariat of the Human Rights Council.
Headquarters location: Geneva, Switzerland.
OHCHR is an ex officio member of the United Nations Development Group.
Prelims Practice MCQs
Q. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is a part of the:
A. UN Security Council
B. UN Secretariat
C. UN General Assembly
D. International Court of Justice
Correct answer: B
Explanation: OHCHR is a department of the UN Secretariat.
Q. The OHCHR was established in the year:
A. 1945
B. 1948
C. 1966
D. 1993
Correct answer: D
Explanation: OHCHR was established on 20 December 1993 after the World Conference on Human Rights.