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related to human rights, the study of petitions, and the final international jurisdiction, for which the establishment of an International Court of Human Rights has been proposed. The report of the second session of the Human Rights Commission was referred to Governments for comments. The proposals contained in the report were examined in detail, and a statement of New Zealand views on the report was forwarded to the Secretary-General of United Nations. The comments of the different Governments will now go through a procedure of further consideration by the Commission, the Economic and Social Council, and the General Assembly. It will be appreciated that the drafting of an International Bill of Human Rights is a problem of great complexity, in view of the varying philosophical ideas current in different parts of the world. Action for the protection of human rights through the United Nations will involve a considerable extension of the previously conceived scope of international jurisdiction. At its second session (January, 1948) the Commission on the Status of Women considered the replies received from Governments to a questionnaire on the rights of women. New Zealand forwarded a comprehensive reply to this question, but it was found that some Governments had not complied with the request for information. On the basis of the information already available, the Commission considered what action should be taken to ensure the granting to women of such rights as the franchise in those countries where this is still not extended. The Commission also considered questions of educational and economic rights and opportunities for women, and problems associated with varying nationality laws. It also proposed certain amendments to the provisions of the draft Declaration and Covenant on Human Rights. There is a long history of international action in the field of the control of traffic in narcotic drugs. Responsibility for certain functions under the international conventions has now passed from the League of Nations to the United Nations. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs is both the advisory organ to the Council in its task of planning and supervising the application of these Conventions and at the same time the policy-formulating body on all questions relating to the control of narcotic drugs. In addition, it has certain supervisory functions under the Conventions and is the appointing authority for one member of the Supervisory Body, and one of the three experts appointed from time to time under the 1931 Convention to decide on control of substances capable of being converted into habit-forming drugs. The Commission regularly surveys the annual reports from Governments and has also considered such matters as the disposition of surplus military stores of narcotics and the control

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