Promotion of human rights

The United Nations continued to promote human rights in 2012, a year that witnessed efforts to build on progress achieved, facilitate reform and launch new initiatives. In February, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure was opened for signature and received 20 signatories. The General Assembly commenced an open-ended intergovernmental process on strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system to improve the efficiency of working methods. The review of 14 countries by the Human Rights Council in May marked the start of the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, designed to assess the human rights record of all States every four years. The Secretary-General, in September, launched the five-year Global Education First Initiative, focused on access to education, quality of education and global citizenship to forge more just, peaceful and tolerant societies.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Partnerships for the Goals