Until the Second World War it was entirely up to each state how it treated its people. The atrocities committed by the Nazi regime against its own citizens led the international post-war community to decide that no longer could the observance of human rights be left solely to an individual state. Whilst recognising the concept of state sovereignty in other matters, the United Nations set out to ensure that universal respect for human rights should form one of the primary aims of the new world organisation. The UN Charter itself provides that the UN shall promote:  Universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion."
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| | (Article 55, United Nations Charter) |
To further this aim, in 1946 the UN created the Commission on Human Rights and a year later the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in order to respond to specific issues related to human rights.
One of the Commission's most important tasks is to elaborate on human rights standards. In 1948, it completed work on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and it was adopted. Its 30 articles are the foundation upon which all later human rights instruments are built. The Declaration is an expression of principles. It is not a binding document. It was always recognised that soon after there would need to be a binding covenant - or treaty - to give the Declaration legal force. Since the creation of the Commission on Human Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN human rights regime has developed considerably to include numerous treaties and committees. The Commission on Human Rights has established procedures and mechanisms including rapporteurs, experts and working groups that investigate, monitor and publicly report on human rights abuses in specific countries or territories. | 
