Research Guides: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), Drafting History: First session

Timeline

1946

1947

1948

Commission on Human Rights - 1st Session

Commission on Human Rights, 1st Session
27 January - 10 February 1947
New York

At the first meeting of the first session of the Commission on Human Rights, Eleanor Roosevelt (United States) was unanimously elected Chairman, with P.C. Chang (China) elected as Vice-Chairman, Charles Malik (Lebanon) was chosen to be Rapporteur (E/CN.4/SR.1). John Humphrey, Director of the Division of Human Rights and Secretary of the Commission, sat in on the sessions of the Commission and participated in the drafting process.

Among the Commission members, views differed whether it was of greater importance to draft a legal instrument with a strong enforcement component, or an international bill of rights that would act as a standard setting document for human rights. This issue persisted throughout the drafting process and the Commission continued to work towards both goals simultaneously. (E/CN.4/SR.7, E/CN.4/SR.9, E/CN.4/SR.10). During its first session the Commission decided that:

(a) the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman and the Rapporteur, with the assistance of the Secretariat, undertake the task of formulating a preliminary draft international bill of human rights, in accordance with the instructions and decisions of the Commission at its first session, to be submitted to the Commission at its second session for thorough examination;

(b) the Chairman, in the course of this work, might enlist the co-operation of, and should receive, orally or in writing, any observations and suggestions from any member of the Commission;

(d) the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur, in drawing up the preliminary draft of the international bill of human rights, might consult any person or document deemed by them of relevance to their work.

The Report of the first session of the Commission on Human Rights (E/259) was submitted to the fourth session of the ECOSOC.

Documents

E/CN.4/1/REV.1
Provisional Agenda for the 1st Session: 24/01/1947
E/CN.4/1/REV.1/CORR.1
Corrigendum: 24/01/1947. French only
E/CN.4/2
Draft Declaration of the International Rights And Duties of Man/formulated by the Inter-American Juridical Committee: 08/01/1947
E/CN.4/3
Provisional Agenda for the 3rd Meeting of the 1st Session, to be held on 28 January 1947: 24/01/1947
E/CN.4/4
United States Proposals Regarding An International Bill of Rights: 28/01/1947
E/CN.4/5
Provisional Agenda for the 5th Meeting of the 1st Session, to be held on 29 January 1947: 29/01/1947
E/CN.4/9
Commission on Human Rights: [List of Members Present at the 1st Session]: 30/01/1947
E/CN.4/9/REV.1
Commission on Human Rights: [List of Members Present at the 1st Session]: 05/02/1947
E/CN.4/10
Provisional Agenda for the 7th Meeting of the 1st Session, to be held on 31 January 1947: 30/01/1947
E/CN.4/11
Draft of a Resolution for the General Assembly/Submitted by the Representative of India: 31/01/1947
E/CN.4/12
Draft Resolution Regarding Composition of a Drafting Committee of the Commission on Human Rights/Submitted by the Representative of India: 01/02/1947
E/CN.4/13
Draft Resolution Regarding the Composition of a Drafting Committee of the Commission on Human Rights/Submitted by the Representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: 01/02/1947
E/CN.4/15
Draft Resolution for An International Court on Human Rights/Submitted by the Representative of Australia: 05/02/1947
E/CN.4/16
Provisional Agenda for the 17th Meeting of the 1st Session: 06/02/1947
E/CN.4/17
United States Proposals regarding an International Bill of Rights: 06/02/1947
E/CN.4/19
Draft Report of the Commission on Human Rights to the Economic And Social Council: 06/02/1947
E/CN.4/19/ADD.1
[Draft Report of the Commission on Human Rights to the Economic And Social Council]. Chapter 5, Communications Concerning Human Rights: 06/02/1947
E/CN.4/21
Drafting Committee on An International Bill of Rights, 1st Session: Report of the Drafting Committee to the Commission on Human Rights: 01/07/1947

Meeting Records

E/CN.4/SR.1
Summary Record of the 1st Meeting, held at Lake Success, New York, on Monday, 27 January 1947: 28/01/1947
E/CN.4/SR.1/CORR.1
Corrigendum to Summary Record of the 1st Meeting held at Lake Success, New York, on Monday, 27 January 1947: 03/02/1947
E/CN.4/SR.2
Summary Record of the 2nd Meeting held at Lake Success, New York, on Monday, 27 January 1947: 29/01/1947
E/CN.4/SR.2/CORR.1
Corrigendum to Summary Record of the 2nd Meeting held at Lake Success, New York, on Monday, 27 January 1947: 30/01/1947
E/CN.4/SR.7
Summary Record of the 7th Meeting held at Lake Success, New York, on Friday, 31 January 1947: 31/01/1947
E/CN.4/SR.8
Summary Record of the 8th Meeting held at Lake Success, New York, Friday 31 January 1947: 31/01/1947
E/CN.4/SR.9
Summary Record of the 9th Meeting held at Lake Success, New York, on Saturday, 1 February 1947: 01/02/1947
E/CN.4/SR.10
Summary Record of the 10th Meeting held at Lake Success, New York, on Saturday, 1 February 1947: 01/02/1947
E/CN.4/SR.11
Summary Record of the 11th Meeting held at Lake Success, New York, on Monday, 3 February 1947: 03/02/1947
E/CN.4/SR.12
Summary Record of the 12th Meeting held at Lake Success, New York, on Monday, 3 February 1947: 03/02/1947
E/CN.4/SR.13
Summary Record of the 13th Meeting held at Lake Success, New York, 4 February 1947: 06/02/1947
E/CN.4/SR.14
Summary Record of the 14th Meeting held at Lake Success, New York, 4 February 1947: 05/02/1947

Reports and Actions

E/259(SUPP)
Commission on Human Rights : Report to the Economic and Social Council on the 1st Session of the Commission held at Lake Success, New York, From 27 January to 10 February 1947: 01/01/1947