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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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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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Enforced and involuntary disappearances

Adopted 23 Dec 2010

International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

Racism, Racial discrimination

Adopted 21 Dec 1965

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Migrant workers

Adopted 18 Dec 1990

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

Civil and political rights

Adopted 16 Dec 1966

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Adopted 16 Dec 1966

Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Economic, social and cultural rights

Adopted 16 Dec 1966

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Labour rights

Adopted 26 Jun 1973

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)

Torture and inhuman treatment

Adopted 18 Dec 2002

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

Adopted 04 Dec 2000

Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Discrimination and intolerance, Women

Adopted 06 Oct 1999

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

Sale of children, Violence against children

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

Persons with disabilities

Adopted 17 Dec 1991

Principles for the protection of persons with mental illness and the improvement of mental health care

Crimes against humanity

Adopted 03 Dec 1973

Principles of international co-operation in the detection, arrest, extradition and punishment of persons guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity

Torture and inhuman treatment, Bioethics

Adopted 18 Dec 1982

Principles of Medical Ethics relevant to the Role of Health Personnel, particularly Physicians, in the Protection of Prisoners and Detainees against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Executions

Adopted 24 May 1989

Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions

National institutions and mechanisms

Adopted 20 Dec 1993

Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (The Paris Principles)

Armed incidents and conflicts

Adopted 08 Jun 1977

Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol 1)

Adopted 08 Jun 1977

Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II)

Migrants

Adopted 15 Nov 2000

Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

Slavery

Adopted 23 Oct 1953

Protocol amending the Slavery Convention signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926

International humanitarian law

Adopted 10 Dec 1962

Protocol Instituting a Conciliation and Good Offices Commission to be responsible for seeking a settlement of any disputes which may arise between States Parties to the Convention against Discrimination in Education

Forced or bonded labour

Adopted 28 May 2014

Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930

Refugees

Adopted 16 Dec 1966

Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees

Human trafficking , Women and children

Adopted 15 Nov 2000

Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime