Hidden Story Channel

Human rights are one of the most important pillars in creating a society with high ethical standards. They protect and preserve human dignity and are set to provide people of the world their peace and freedoms.

The Human Rights Commission is the organization that oversees and protects these human rights issues.

This article will examine the Human Rights Commission and how they leverage Twitter as a platform.

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights Board

The United Nations Human Rights Commission existed until 2006.
The name changed to the United Nations Human Rights Council as the number of members of the group changed.
The United Nations Human Rights Council is recognized as a separate organization than the former United Nations Human Rights Commission.
Here’s a brief summary of both organizations.
The main topics addressed by the United Nations Human Rights Council and United Nations Human Rights Commission are below:

• Committees and Organizations for the Working Groups
• Addressing Conflict in Israel
• Human Rights Concerns in Participating Nations

Committees and Organizations for Working Groups

The United Nations Human Rights Council is an organization within the UN that aims to promote, advocate and raise awareness around human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The purpose of the board is as following:

• Address human rights emergencies
• Prevent human rights violations
• Provide comprehensive policy guidance
• Develop new positive international standards and norms
• Monitor human rights compliance /span>
• Support participating countries in achieving human rights goals and obligations

The work of the United Nations Human Rights Council is supported by the Human Rights Council Advisory Board.

The United Rights Council Advisory board acts as the “think tank” of the UN Human Rights Council and is comprised of 18 members.

Reference : “Introduction – OHCHR”

Addressing the Conflict in Israel

The Human Rights watch reports groups of Israelis that have oppressed and violated the human rights of Palestinians.

Kenneth Roth, President of the Human Rights Watch said the following:

Prominent voices have warned for years that apartheid lurks just around the corner if the trajectory of Israel’s rule over Palestinians does not change

Reference “Abusive Israeli Policies Constitute Crimes of Apartheid, Persecution – Human rights watch”
In response to his statement, the UN Human Rights Council held a meeting regarding the situation in Gaza – the Palestinian territory in which the Israeli army bombed.
Furthermore, he established an investigatory committee to assess and oversee the human rights violations occurring in the Israeli-Palestinian territory and beyond.
Conversely, there are arguments the UN Human Rights Council is inundated with the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
The United States withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council due to its concerns on siding too strongly with either side regarding the Israel – Palestine conflict.
In response to this, Zyed Hussein said the following on Twitter:

Disappointing, if not really surprising, news. Given the state of #HumanRights in today’s world, the US should be stepping up, not stepping back

Reference “US quits ‘biased’ UN human rights council – BBC”

Human Rights Concerns in Participating Nations

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council are important organizations and leading examples on improving human rights issues.
However, there are many concerns.
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, established before the UN Human Rights Council was started after World War 2 to support the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
From there, concerns arose that human rights abusers were negatively impacting the commission.
To mitigate these concerns, the Human Rights Council was formed in 2006, under leadership from Switzerland.
Additionally, some of the members of the current Human Rights Council have been criticized as their home countries are committing human rights violations.
In this manner, there are concerns with the participating countries of organizations and their stance on human rights.

Human Rights Commission’s Mission

Apart from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council, independent companies and organizations have their own Human Rights Commissions.
The Human Rights Commissions have three main objectives as listed below:

• Raise awareness on human rights in countries and companies
• Mitigate Human Rights Issues
• Human Rights Consulting Service

Improving Human Rights of Companies and Countries

One of the main purposes of Human Rights Commissions is to raise awareness on human rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was made in 1948.

This declaration included initiatives to eliminate discrimination and fought for basic human rights.

Every country faces issues when addressing human rights.

Countries are required to establish human rights principles in line with the Paris Principles.

Using these principles, each country strives to raise awareness on human rights led by their respective committees.

Additionally, human rights policies have been set for companies.

By establishing these policies by way of committees, corporate social responsibility will be improved immensely.

Therefore, human rights committees may be established on a company-by-company basis.

Addressing Human Rights Issues

Establishing human rights committees are important in raising awareness around human rights issues.

The Paris Principles, which called for the establishment of human rights groups said the following:

As a request from petitioners, issues are to be addressed freely and independent without referral or influence from government or any other higher authority.

Reference : Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions – OHCHR”

As illustrated above, the Commission on Human Rights is required to be an independent institution.

By establishing human rights committees, it’s possible to raise awareness and take necessary measures against human rights issues.

Human Rights Consultation

Human Rights Commissions are required to ask as a consultation desk and open window for people to speak about human rights issues.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has received complaints from individuals regarding human rights violations.

Additionally, commissions of countries must act as consultation desks regarding human rights violations and issues.

dissuaded dissuaded In this way, Human Rights Commissions act as a consultation service to the public.

Why Do Human Rights Commissions Use Twitter

Human Rights Commissions of countries and the United Nations Information Center regularly posts on Twitter.

The purpose of these posts are listed below:

• Spread knowledge and awareness on human rights issues
• Check on protected individuals
• Activity Reports

Spreading Knowledge and Awareness

Human Rights Commissions make great use of the power and reach of social media platforms.

Additionally, Twitter is an effective platform due to its popularity amongst the youth, making it an essential platform to disseminate information effectively.

Thus, these commissions post on Twitter to get information out to as many people as possible.

Checking on Protected Individuals

In areas where human rights violations are a major issue, Twitter acts as an effective platform to quickly inform the world on the violations that are occurring.

Thus, getting in contact with individuals in these areas through Twitter is an important method to see if they are safe or in danger.

Activity Reports

Having an official twitter account per Human Rights Commissions allows them to regularly report on their various activities and initiatives.

More so, by using Twitter this type of reporting will reach a larger number of people.

Q&A About Human Rights Commissions and Their Usage of Twitter

Which Countries Are Participating in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights?

Which countries are participating in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights?

All nations in the United Nations participate in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

However, there are 53 members of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
The participating regions are as follows:

• Africa: 15 Seats
• Asia-Pacific: 12 Seats
• Latin America and the Caribbean: 10 Seats
• Western Europe: 7 Seats
• Eastern Europe: 6 Seats

Both the UN Commission on Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Council have a three-year term.

Every election period, a third of each organization is replaced.

Reference : “Welcome to the Human Rights Council – OHCHR”

When Was the United Nations Commission on Human Rights Established

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights was established in 1946.

It was one of the initial “functional committees” established within the early days of the United Nations.

Additionally, it’s an organization created under the conditions of the Charter of the United Nations.

Thus, all nations under the Charter of United Nations are participating countries.

Reference:”Introduction – OHCHR”

Are There Human Rights Violations on Twitter?

Human rights violations do occur on Twitter.

Many of these violations happen against woman.

Amnesty International had the following to say regarding these violations and Twitter’s response.

We demand Twitter takes the necessary measures to address these issues to help prevent human rights abuses and to provide effective and helpful remedies and countermeasures against these attacks

Reference :”Toxic Twitter – Human Rights Responsibilities – Amnesty International”

Twitter had the following to say regarding human rights violations on their platform.

In accordance with the US Bill of Rights and European Convention of Human Rights we are kept informed by our Trust and Safety Council members, supporters and activists.

Reference : “Defending and respecting the rights of people using our service – Twitter”

In this manner, Twitter is said to be a platform in which human rights violations occur.

Proximity and Closeness to Human Rights

The Human Rights Convention publishes human rights issues through Twitter.

Their efforts allow people to feel closer or more impacted by human rights issues.

It’s important to feel impacted and that human rights issues are a prevalent part of our daily lives.