United Nations
Background Note
24-hour "Hot Line" for
Reporting Human Rights
Violations
In 1994, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights established a Human
Rights Hot Line, a 24-hour facsimile line that will allow the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
in Geneva to monitor and react rapidly to human rights emergencies. The Hot Line is available to victims of human rights violations, their relatives and non-governmental organizations. The Hot Line fax number in Geneva, Switzerland
is 41-22-917-0092.
In addition, a Human Rights Database has been created in
Geneva to gather information for use by special rapporteurs who are
responsible for investigating questions
such as religious intolerance, torture, racism and freedom of
expression. The new database contains
information that will eventually be available by modem or other
electronic means to human rights
rapporteurs and experts worldwide.
Both measures are designed to improve the timely flow of
information from and to special rapporteurs
from anywhere in the world, and form the basis of an electronic
network linking the globe. The Hot Line is especially valuable to those
wishing to establish urgent, potentially
life-saving contact with the Special Procedures Branch of the
Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights. The measures are part of new moves by the
United Nations to enhance the global flow and exchange of
information. Such information is essential in addressing five
priority areas of the United Nations human
rights programme:
- Human rights emergency situations;
- Developing situations which may require preventive action
by the High Commissioner;
- Investigative missions by special rapporteurs or working
groups;
- Follow-up action by the High Commissioner to
recommendations made by special rapporteurs
and working groups;
- Implementation efforts, including the work of treaty-based
bodies and the provision of advisory
services and technical assistance to United Nations Member
States.
The steps being taken by the High Commissioner represent
the continued implementation of the
Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference
on Human Rights, held in
Vienna, Austria, from 14 to 25 June 1993. Mr. Ayala Lasso, who was
appointed as the first United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 14 February 1994,
said the Vienna Conference was a
watershed, marking the realization of an "era of implementation" of
human rights standards and
mechanisms that have been developed over the past years.
Published by the United Nations Department of Public
Information DPI/1550/HRrev.1--August
1998