The Core Inter national Human Rights T reaties

1 The Core international Human Rights Treaties13-48973 ISBN: 978-92-1-154202-8 The Core international Human Rights TreatiesThe Core international Human Rights TreatiesUNITED NATIONSNew York and Geneva, 2014 NoteThe designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or NATIONS PUBLICATIONS ales No ISBN-13: 978-92-1-154202-8eISBN-13: 978-92-1-056467-0 2014 United NationsAll worldwide Rights reservediiiContentsUniversal Declaration of Human Rights .. 3 international Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

2 11 international covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights .. 29 optional protocol to the international covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights .. 43 international covenant on Civil and Political Rights .. 57 optional protocol to the international covenant on Civil and Political Rights .. 83 Second optional protocol to the international covenant on Civil and Political Rights , aiming at the abolition of the death penalty .. 89 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women .. 93 optional protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women .. 111 Convention on the Rights of the Child .. 119 optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child 147 optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.

3 159iv The Core international Human Rights TreatiesOptional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure .. 167 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment .. 181 optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or 199 international Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families .. 217 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities .. 267 optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities .. 303 international Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance .. 3091 IntroductionSince 1945 the international community has progressively developed and defined international Human Rights law.

4 The founding documents in this regard are the Charter of the United Nations (1945) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). Today, the key definitions of Human Rights are comprised in the Declaration, in nine core international Human Rights treaties and in nine optional protocols. United Nations Human Rights work is largely undertaken within this normative framework. The treaties are central to the work and activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at national , regional and international levels. The treaties and their optional protocols are ratified or acceded to by States on a voluntary basis; once a State becomes a party to a treaty or a protocol , it takes on the legal obligation to implement its provisions and to report periodically to a United Nations treaty body composed of independent such bodies monitor the implementation of these treaties and optional protocols through two main channels: periodic reports on the situation of specific Rights in a State party and communications submitted by individuals.

5 Some treaty bodies can also visit countries and undertake publishing the international Human Rights treaties in this user-friendly format, OHCHR wishes to make them more accessible, in particular to State officials, civil society organizations, Human Rights defenders, legal practitioners, scholars, individual Rights holders and others with an interest in Human Rights norms and up-to-date information about the countries around the world where these treaties apply, please visit the OHCHR website: Declaration of Human RightsAdopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948 PREAMBLEW hereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable Rights of all members of the Human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,Whereas disregard and contempt for Human Rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which Human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that Human Rights should be protected by the rule of law.

6 Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental Human Rights , in the dignity and worth of the Human person and in the equal Rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms,4 The Core international Human Rights TreatiesWhereas a common understanding of these Rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,Now, therefore,The General AssemblyProclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these Rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international , to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance.

7 Both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their 1 All Human beings are born free and equal in dignity and Rights . They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of 2 Everyone is entitled to all the Rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other , no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of 3 Everyone has the right to life, liberty and the security of 4No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.

8 Slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. Universal Declaration of Human Rights 5 Article 5No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or 6 Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the 7 All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such 8 Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental Rights granted him by the constitution or by 9No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or 10 Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his Rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against 111.

9 Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was The Core international Human Rights TreatiesArticle 12No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or 131.

10 Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his 141. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United 151. Everyone has the right to a No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his 161. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal Rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.