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Human Rights Instruments

Explore the documents that provide the foundational legal framework for international human rights.

In addition to the International Bill of Rights and the core human rights treaties, there are many other universal instruments relating to human rights. A non-exhaustive selection is listed below.

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Adopted 10 Dec 1984

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Adopted 18 Dec 1979

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women New York, 18 December 1979

Adopted 12 Dec 2006

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Adopted 20 Nov 1989

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Adopted 23 Dec 2010

International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

Adopted 21 Dec 1965

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Adopted 18 Dec 1990

International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families

Adopted 16 Dec 1966

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Adopted 16 Dec 1966

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Adopted 18 Dec 2002

Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Adopted 06 Oct 1999

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Adopted 13 Dec 2006

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Adopted 19 Dec 2011

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure

Adopted 25 May 2000

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict

Adopted 25 May 2000

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

Adopted 16 Dec 1966

Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Adopted 10 Dec 2008

Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Adopted 15 Dec 1989

Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty

In addition to the International Bill of Rights and the core human rights treaties, there are many other universal instruments relating to human rights. A non-exhaustive selection is listed below.

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Forced or bonded labour

Adopted 25 Jun 1957

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)

Transitional justice

Adopted 15 Dec 2005

Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law

Detention and imprisonment, Treatment of prisoners

Adopted 14 Dec 1990

Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners

Adopted 09 Dec 1988

Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment

Independence of judges and lawyers

Adopted 06 Sep 1985

Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary

Adopted 07 Sep 1990

Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers

Law enforcement

Adopted 07 Sep 1990

Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials

Adopted 17 Dec 1979

Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials

Discrimination and intolerance, Education

Adopted 14 Dec 1960

Convention against Discrimination in Education

Human trafficking

Adopted 02 Dec 1949

Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others

Child and forced marriages

Adopted 07 Nov 1962

Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages

Women

Adopted 18 Dec 1979

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women New York, 18 December 1979

Crimes against humanity

Adopted 26 Nov 1968

Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity

Genocide

Adopted 09 Dec 1948

Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

Statelessness

Adopted 30 Aug 1961

Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness

Adopted 28 Sep 1954

Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons

Children's rights

Adopted 20 Nov 1989

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Refugees

Adopted 28 Jul 1951

Convention relating to the Status of Refugees

Administration of justice

Adopted 29 Nov 1985

Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power

Persons with HIV/AIDS

Adopted 27 Jun 2001

Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS

Racial discrimination

Adopted 27 Nov 1978

Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice

Right to development

Adopted 11 Dec 1969

Declaration on Social Progress and Development

Religious intolerance

Adopted 25 Nov 1981

Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief

Violence against women

Adopted 20 Dec 1993

Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women