Israel Submits Proposal on Implementation of Human Rights Pact to United Nations

The establishment of a new specialized agency by the United Nations to be responsible for the implementation of the draft international covenant on human rights was proposed today by the Government of Israel in response to a questionnaire circulated by U.N. Secretary-General Trygve Lie.

The Israel Government took the view that in addition to national implementation, some form of international implementation of human rights is necessary. Its proposal was submitted to the Secretary-General by Aubrey S. Eban, Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

The new specialized human rights agency would consist of an assembly composed of the representatives of states entering into the human rights covenant. The Assembly would elect a body of persons chosen in their independent capacity. It would be empowered with conciliation of disputes and all other functions necessary for implementation of the covenant, including the appointment of ad hoc fact finding committees.

The agency would have its own secretariat headed by a secretary-general. The ad hoc fact finding bodies would be composed of one member appointed by each of the litigating states and a number of persons appointed by the body created by the Assembly. Action could be initiated on the basis of complaints of states, or by petitions of non-governmental organizations given the right of petition by the agency. The agency could be authorized to request advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice on legal questions arising within the scope of its activities.

The Israel Government does not believe it necessary to create a special court of human rights or a special chamber of the existing International Court of Justice for this purpose. Insofar as disputes over human rights are justifiable disputes within the terms of the statute of the International Court, states may refer them to the Court.