1946-1954 UN Department of Social Affairs. Division of Human Rights
1955-1974 UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Division of Human Rights
1974-1982 UNOG Divivision of Human Rights
1982-1994 UNOG Centre for Human Rights
1994 - present day OHCHR
Related links:
UNOG. Division of Human Rights
Organization of the Division:
1976 ST/SGB/Organization/SectionS
1977 ST/SGB/Organization/SectionS/Add.1/Ammend.1: pp. 20-23
Directors:
1974-1977 Director – Marc Schreiber
1977-1982 Director – Theodor G. van Boven
UN. Dept of Economic and Social Affairs. Division of Human Rights
Organization of the Division:
1959 ST/ADM/1, Section 5(b)
1960 ST/SGB/122, Section 5(b)
1964 ST/SGB/128, Chapitre 1 (a) (Fr)
1966 ST/SGB/131, Section 1(a)
Directors:
1955-1966 Director – John P. Humphrey
1966-1974 Director – Marc Schreiber
Pursuant to GA decisions Budget Estimate for the Financial Year 1973 (para. f.g A/8730, p, 109) and Proposed Programme Budget for the biennium 1974-1975 and Medium-term plan for the period 1974-1977 (para g A/9030, p. 132) Division of Human Rights was transferred to Geneva with effect from 15 June 1974.
UN. Dept of Social Affairs. Division of Human Rights
Organization of the Division:
1946 SG/AD/W.30, pp. 8, 17, 19-20
1951 ST/FS/2, Section 8
1953 ST/FS/2, pp. 105, 107-108, 110-112
Directors:
1946-1952 Director – John P. Humphrey
1953 Acting Director – Egon Schwelb
1954 Director – John P. Humphrey
UNOG. Centre for Human Rights
Established by General Assembly Decision 37/437 (In: A/37/51, p.290)
Assistant and Under Secretary-Generals:
1982-1987 Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights – Kurt Herndle
1987-1992 Under Secretary-General for Human Rights – Jan Martenson
1992 Under Secretary-General – Antoine Blanca
1993-1994 Under Secretary-General – Ibrahima Fall
1993 ST/SGB/Organization Section CHR and Corr.1
Michelle Bachelet Jeria, 2018-2022
Appointment:
Secretary-General press-release (10 Aug 2018) ; General Assembly press-release (10 Aug 2018)
GA decision 72/422 – Approval of the appointment of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Meeting record: A/72/PV.111, agenda item 115 (h)
Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein, 2014-2018
Appointment:
Secretary-General press-release (6 June 2014)
GA decision 68/420 – Approval of the appointment of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In: Resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly during its 68th session. Volume 3, 28 December 2013 – 15 September 2014 – A/68/49 (Vol.III) – 2015 – p. 156 – (GAOR, 68th sess., Suppl. No. 49).
Meeting record: A/68/PV.98, agenda item 116 (i)
Navanethem Pillay, 2008-2014
Appointment, 1st term:
Secretary-General press-release (28 July 2008)
GA decision 62/420 – Approval of the appointment of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In: Resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly during its 62nd session. Volume 3, 23 December 2007 – 15 September 2008 – A/62/49 (Vol.III) – 2008 – p. 102 – (GAOR, 62nd sess., Suppl. No. 49).
Meeting record: A/62/PV.116, agenda item 114 (i)
Appointment, 2nd term:
GA decision 66/423 – Approval of the appointment of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In: Resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly during its 66th session. Volume 3, 25 December 2011 – 17 September 2012 – A/66/49 (Vol.III) – 2012 – p. 204 – (GAOR, 66th sess., Suppl. No. 49).
Meeting record: A/66/PV.98110, agenda item 115 (h)
Louise Arbor, 2004-2008
Appointment:
Secretary-General press-release (20 Feb. 2004)
GA decision 58/417 – Approval of the appointment of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In: Resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly during its 58th session. Volume 3, 24 December 2003 – 13 September 2004 – A/58/49 (Vol.III) – 2004 – p. 58 – (GAOR, 58th sess., Suppl. No. 49).
Meeting record: A/58/PV.81, agenda item 117
Bertrand Ramcharan, 2003-2004
Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Acting High Commissioner
Appointment - Secretary-General press-release (27 Oct 1998)
A/57/818 – Letter dated 23 May 2003 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly
After the death of Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, then High Commissioner, who was killed on 19 August 2003 during the attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Dr. Ramcharan assumed the post of acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, which he held until July 2004, when a new High Commissioner, was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General.
Related press-releases:
SG/SM/8823-IK/376 - Vieira de Mello’s death ‘bitter blow’ for United Nations, says Secretary-General (19 August 2003)
HR/4688-IK/380 - Remarks of Bertrand Ramcharan, Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, at Baghdad Airport (22 August 2003)
Sergio Vieira de Mello, 2002-2003
Appointment:
Secretary-General press-release (23 July 2002)
GA decision 56/323 – Approval of the appointment of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In: Resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly during its 56th session. Volume 3, 25 December 2001 – 9 September 2002 – A/56/49 (Vol.III) – 2002 – p. 95 – (GAOR, 56th sess., Suppl. No. 49).
Meeting record: A/56/PV.109, agenda item 17 (i)
Related press-release:
SG/A/837-BIO/3494-IK/361 - Secretary-General appoints Sergio Vieira de Mello as his Special Representative for Iraq (28 May 2003)
Mary Robinson, 1997-2002
Appointment, 1st term:
Secretary-General press-release (12 June 1997)
GA decision 51/322 – Approval of the appointment of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In: Resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly during its 51st session. Volume 3, 19 December 1996 – 15 September 1997 – A/51/49 (Vol.III) – 1997 – p. 126 – (GAOR, 51st sess., Suppl. No. 49).
Meeting record: A/51/PV.102, agenda item 110
Appointment, 2nd term:
GA decision 55/322 – Approval of the appointment of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In: Resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly during its 55th session. Volume 3, 24 December 2000 – 10 September 2001 – A/55/49 (Vol.III) – 2001 – p. 89 – (GAOR, 55th sess., Suppl. No. 49).
Meeting record: A/55/PV.101, agenda item 17 (j)
José Ayala-Lasso, 1994-1997
Appointment:
Secretary-General press-release (1 Feb. 1994)
GA decision 48/231 – Approval of the appointment of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In: Resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly during its 48th session. Volume 2, 24 December 1993 – 19 September 1994 – A/48/49 (Vol.I I) – 1994 – p. 57 – (GAOR, 48th sess., Suppl. No. 49).
Meeting record: A/48/PV.89, agenda item 114 (b)
Established by the GA Resolution 48/141 (20 December 1993).
Organization of the OHCHR:
1997 ST/SGB/1997/10
2006 OHCHR report. Organizational Chart
2007 OHCHR report. Organizational Chart
2008 OHCHR report. Organizational Chart
2009 OHCHR report. Organizational Chart
2010 OHCHR report. Annex IV. Organizational Chart
2011 OHCHR report. Annex V. Organizational Chart
2012 OHCHR report. Annex III. Organizational Chart
2013 OHCHR report. Annex IV. Organizational Chart
2014 OHCHR report. Annex III. Organizational Chart
2015 OHCHR report. Annex IV. Organizational Chart
2016 OHCHR Report. Annex IV. Organizational Chart
2017 OHCHR report. Annex IV. Organizational Chart