The international system and the UN
All the UN Member States agree to fullfill the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the United Nations Charter, i.e. the international treaty establishing the fundamental principles of international relations.
The International Bill of Human Rights
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966
Human rights
Civil and political rights are indivisible from, and interedependent with economic, social and cultural rights.
There is no hierarchy and they are equally important.
International Conventions
There are different conventions protecting the rights of specific groups of population
eg.: The Convention on the Rights of the Child
Fundamental rights
The “right to an adequate standard of living”
UDHR, art. 25; ICESCR, art. 11; Convention on the Rights of the Child, art. 27
No one should be deprived of his or her rights to livelihood: rights to adequate food, clothing, housing and necessary assistance.
An adequate standard of living
“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing...”
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, art. 25, paragraph 1.
“the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing...”
ICESCR, art. 11
Freedom from hunger
“The States Parties to the present Covenant, recognizing the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, shall take, individually and through international co-operation, the measures, including specific programmes, which are needed.”
ICESCR, art. 11, paragraph 2
The rights of the child
“States Parties recognize the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development.”
Convention on the Rights of the Child, art. 27
International treaty-based human rights bodies
- Human Rights Committee - CCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights )
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – CESCR (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
- Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - CERD (Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination)
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women - CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women)
- Committee Against Torture - CAT (Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment)
- Committee on the Rights of the Child - CRC (Convention on the Rights of the Child)
- Committee on Migrant Workers - CMW (Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families)
You will find further information on all these Committees on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Non-treaty-based human rights mechanisms
- Thematic Special Rapporteur (SP)
- Working groups of the Human Rights Council
- Special Representatives (S. Rep)
- Independent Experts (IE)
You will find the list of Special Rapporteurs, Special Representatives of the Secretary-General, and Independent Experts on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Charter-based bodies
Civil society and NGOs
Parallel and alternative reports.
