Switzerland plays an active role within the UN for the promotion, protection and implementation of human rights. One of the UN's primary purposes is to promote and encourage respect for fundamental rights and freedoms for all.
The UN and human rights
Various UN bodies and offices are dedicated to the protection and development of human rights. These include the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council – both of which have their headquarters in Geneva – and the UN General Assembly in New York.
Switzerland's priorities
Switzerland firmly believes that enforcing human rights is a precondition for ensuring sustained social and economic development, peace and security and the prevention of conflicts and violent extremism. Its human rights priorities are in the following issues:
Action against impunity
Dealing with the past
Abolition of the death penalty
Application of the ban on torture
Respect for human rights in the context of peaceful protests
Freedom of expression and association
Protection of human rights defenders
Respect for the rights of women and children
Respect for the rights of migrants
The role of human rights in preventing conflicts
The specific human rights situation in certain countries
Switzerland has ratified all the main UN conventions on human rights.
United Nations Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council is one of the main UN institutions responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights. It was created in June 2006, replacing the former UN Commission on Human Rights. It is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly and meets at the UN office at Geneva. The Council is made up of 47 member states.
Switzerland actively supported the creation of the Human Rights Council. Switzerland has been member of this body three times (2006-2009; 2010-2013; 2016-2018). The creation of the Human Rights Council has also strengthened the position of International Geneva and its status as a global centre of expertise in human rights.
The system of special procedures is one of the human rights instruments available to the Council in fulfilling its mandate. Therein independent human rights experts are mandated to report from a thematic or country-specific perspective. Switzerland has extended a standing invitation to all thematic special procedures and accepts all requests for visits from the relevant mandate holders.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
The OHCHR, which has its headquarters in Geneva, is mandated to promote and coordinate efforts to ensure respect for human rights within the entire United Nations system. The OHCHR is one of Switzerland's main partners in implementing its human rights policy. For its part, Switzerland is one of the largest donors to the OHCHR.
Links
The United Nations and the protection of human rights
United Nations Human Rights Council
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Office, OHCHR
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
The UN General Assembly 3rd Committee
Careers in international organisations
Election of members of treaty bodies
Documents
The Human Rights Council: A practical guide (PDF, 2.3 MB, English)
FDFA Human Rights Strategy 2016-2019 (PDF, 254.7 kB, English)
The history of the creation of the Human Rights Council (PDF, Number of pages 18, 24.6 kB)
Appeal of June 13th 2016 to enhance conflict prevention (PDF, 238.3 kB, English)