A Human Rights Commission is a body set up to investigate, promote and/or protect human rights.
The term may refer to international, national or subnational bodies set up for this purpose, such as national human rights institutions or (usually temporary) truth and reconciliation commissions.
International Human Rights Commissions
Region | Commission | Note |
---|---|---|
United Nations (Universal) | United Nations Human Rights Council | replaced the United Nations Commission on Human Rights; distinct from the UN Human Rights Committee |
African Union (Africa) | African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights | |
Organisation of American States (Americas) | Inter-American Commission on Human Rights | |
Asia | ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) | |
Asian Human Rights Commission | non-governmental | |
Council of Europe (Europe) | European Commission on Human Rights | 1954 to 1998; defunct |
International Society for Human Rights |
National or subnational bodies
National and sub-national human rights commissions have been established in a number of countries for the promotion and protection of their citizens' human rights, and most commissions are public bodies but with some degree of independence from the state. In other countries the ombudsman performs that role. The commissions below are state-sponsored except where indicated.
Africa
Asia-Pacific
Europe
Americas
Country | Commission | Note |
---|---|---|
Canada | Canadian Human Rights Commission | |
British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal | ||
Ontario Human Rights Commission | ||
Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission | ||
Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse | Québec | |
Guatemala | Guatemala Human Rights Commission | US-based non-governmental organization |
Mexico | National Human Rights Commission (Mexico) | |
Peru | National Human Rights Commission (Peru) | |
United States | United States Commission on Civil Rights | |
Idaho Human Rights Commission | ||
Illinois Human Rights Commission | ||
Human Rights Commission of Salt Lake City | ||
San Francisco Human Rights Commission | ||
Seattle Human Rights Commission | ||
Sioux City Human Rights Commission | ||
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission | international non-governmental organization | |
Numerous municipal "human relations commissions" |