United Nations Human Rights Organizations

(a) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) — addressing human rights issues of refugees around the world – led by High Commissioner António Guterres

(b ) Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) — promotes human rights, human rights research, and human rights treaties – led by Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad, High Commissioner for Human Rights

(c) United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC or HRC) — created in March 2006 to address human rights violations. It works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and engages the United Nations’ special procedures.  This includes United Nations special procedures for Special Rapporteurs for various human rights subjects. On June 18, 2007, the UNHRC adopted Resolution 5/1 by which a new complaint procedure was established to address consistent patterns of gross and reliably attested violations of all human rights and all fundamental freedoms occurring in any part of the world and under any circumstance
— Joachim Rücker, President of the Human Rights Council, Ninth Cycle (2015)
— Questions and answers
— Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment: Juan Mendez

(d) United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR or CHR) (disbanded 2006) – was to work examine, monitor and publicly report on human rights situations in specific countries or territories (known as country mechanisms or mandates) as well as on major phenomena of human rights violations worldwide (known as thematic mechanisms or mandates), and to work with the OHCHR. In 2006, it was replaced by the UN Human Rights Council.

(e) United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) – acts as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states and the United Nations system – and holds a four week session in July. It is led by UN ECOSOC President Oh Joon. (The UNCHR was a part of ECOSOC, before it was disbanded in 2006.)