Evening star., 1947-01-26

of the peoples of other countries.
Had there existed an effective inter-
national bill of rights in, say, 1885,
it might have been possible to avoid
the war.
"By an effective international bill
of rights" mean one; that can be
enforced by international action.
There must be provision for en-
forcement on the international level
because it is generally recognized
that, in the final analysis, human
rights must be protected by some
law higher than the law of the state.
The Gu. NJ Charter refers to human
rights in various places and sets
forth the principle that there shall
be no discrimination on grounds of
race, sex, language or religion; but
the Charter does not define human
rights, nor does it establish any
machinery for their enforcement.
"One of the most difficult prob
lens is the problem of enforcement.
Paragraph of resolution adopted
by the Economic and Social Council
on June 81, 1916, says that the pur-
pose of the United Nations with
regard to the promotion and observ-
ance of human rights can only be
fulfilled if provisions are made for
the enforcement of human rights
and of an international bill of
rights"
Mrs. Roosevelt a Member.
The members of the Commission
on Human Rights are Australia,
Belgium. White Russia, Chile, China,
Egypt, France, India, Iran, Lebanon,
Panama, Philippine Republic, Uk-
raine, United Kingdom, United
States, U. S. S. r., Uruguay, Yugo-
slavia. Mrs. Franklin Delano Roose-
welt, the United States delegate, is
the only woman.
The commissions first job is to
decide what principles shall be in
corporated in an international bill
of rights. Will it guarantee Mr..
and Mrs. John Public all over the
world the right to: Vote, work,
choose their religion or nation, be-
long to a union, own property, par
ticipate in elections and government,
form their own opinions and enjoy
freedom of speech? Will it insure
them the right to education, social
security, adequate food and housing?
In many sections of the world mil
lions still lack some or most of these
things.
The commission already has on
hand approximately 1000 COM
munications from individuals and
organizations relating to human
rights. 1t also has four drafts of
proposed international bills of right
submitted by the American Fedora
ton of Labor, Panama, Cuba and
Chile.
The Panama draft presents some
interesting data. For instance, pro-
visions establishing freedom Of
opinion are contained in the current
or recent constitutions of only seven
countries and the right to work in
only nine. On the other hand,
rights comparable to freedom of ex-
preston are contained in current or
recent constitutions of SIS countries:
Rights comparable to freedom of re-
ligion in So; freedom of assembly, At;
fair trial, so; property ownership, so:
education, 40.
The American Federation of Labor
draft couples the right to work with
the right to form labor and pro-
fessional unions.
Might Take Three Forms.
International law experts say an
international bill of rights could
take one of three forms: CD A
resolution adopted by the General
Assembly, CO an international con-
vention or treaty or 60 bill Of
rights incorporated in the Charter
as part of the fundamental law of
the United Nations. During its COM
ing session the commission will
make a recommendation concern
ing this to the Economic and Social
Council, which will in turn make
a recommendation to the General
Assembly. Before the international
bill of rights could become liv-
ing instrument it would have to be
approved by the General Assembly.
If it is in the form of a treaty or
incorporated in the Charter it must
be ratified by a majority of the
United Nations.
Under terms of the Charter the
Security Council is empowered to
take any measures it deems wise
to dispel threat to peace. If the
projected international bill OF
rights became a living instrument,
d VI llSllto
be considered threat to peace, in
which case the Security Council
presumably would be empowered to
take action.
However there might be many
violations of human rights too small
to be considered threats to peace,
but nevertheless dangerous as prece-
dents. To care for such cases the
international bill Of rights might
provide for enforcement either by
a court of human rights or by
commission with authority to in
vestigate and correct violations.
j Since it is generally conceded that
the drafting of an international
bill of rights and its acceptance
by the United Nations may take
years, the Commission on Human
Rights is empowered to establish
at the coming session three sub
commissions.
The first would deal with freedom
of information and of the press,
4Lo eacopd urift tho otacfioo of