Human Rights Key Terms
The Convention against Torture
1987, places an absolute prohibition on the use of torture as state policy. requires to "take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction". the Convention also prohibits returning a person to a state in circumstances where he or she is likely to be tortured
Article 55 (c) and 56 of the United Nations Charter
55.c. universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. 56. All Members pledge themselves to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the Organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55.
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Adopted by the General Assembly in 1966; prohibits discrimination based on anything; prohibits torture and cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment; prohibits slavery; permits the death penalty to the most serious crimes committed by people over 18
Human Rights Watch
Advocate group that looks to bring bring human rights to countries around the world. They bring information to public eye and hope to persuade the public to pressure for change.
Amnesty International
An influential non-governmental organization that operates globally to monitor and try to rectify glaring abuses of political (not economic or social) human rights.
Permanent Members of the UN Security Council
China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and the United States
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, it was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 (General Assembly resolution 217 A) as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages. "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 brotherhood." 30 rights
Nongovernmental Organizations
Organizations which are independent of government involvement are known as non-governmental organizations or non-government organizations, with NGO as an acronym. NGOs are a subgroup of organizations founded by citizens, which include clubs and associations that provide services to their members and others.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the First and Second Optional Protocol)
The First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is an international treaty establishing an individual complaint mechanism for the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 December 1966, and entered into force on 23 March 1976. The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty is a side agreement to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It was created on 15 December 1989 and entered into force on 11 July 1991.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, it seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans. Created by Thurgood Marshall in 1940 and became independent of the NAACP in 1957.
The Convention of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
Unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1948 as General Assembly Resolution 260. The Convention entered into force on 12 January 1951. Article 2 of the Convention defines genocide as ... any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
The Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Racial Discrimination
a United Nations convention. A third-generation human rights instrument, the Convention commits its members to the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of understanding among all races. The Convention also requires its parties to outlaw hate speech and criminalize membership in racist organizations. The Convention also includes an individual complaints mechanism, effectively making it enforceable against its parties. This has led to the development of a limited jurisprudence on the interpretation and implementation of the Convention. The convention was adopted and opened for signature by the United Nations General Assembly on 21 December 1965, and entered into force on 4 January 1969. As of July 2020, it has 88 signatories and 182 parties. The Convention is monitored by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Defines racial discrimination as "any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference, based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin"
The Convention on the Rights of the Child
a human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children.
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966 through GA. Resolution 2200A (XXI), and came in force from 3 January 1976. It commits its parties to work toward the granting of economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR) to the Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories and individuals, including labour rights and the right to health, the right to education, and the right to an adequate standard of living. As of July 2020, the Covenant has 171 parties.
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966 through GA. Resolution 2200A (XXI), and came in force from 3 January 1976.It commits its parties to work toward the granting of economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR) to the Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories and individuals, including labour rights and the right to health, the right to education, and the right to an adequate standard of living.
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
aiming at the abolition of the death penalty is a side agreement to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It was created on 15 December 1989 and entered into force on 11 July 1991.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights
an autonomous judicial institution based in the city of San José, Costa Rica. Together with the Inter - American Commission on Human Rights, it makes up the human rights protection system of the Organization of American States (OAS), which serves to uphold & promote basic rights & freedoms in the Americas
The International Criminal Court
an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal that sits in The Hague, Netherlands. It is the first and only permanent international court with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. It is intended to complement existing national judicial systems and it may therefore exercise its jurisdiction only when national courts are unwilling or unable to prosecute criminals. It lacks universal territorial jurisdiction, and may only investigate and prosecute crimes committed within member states, crimes committed by nationals of member states, or crimes in situations referred to the Court by the United Nations Security Council. It began operations on 1 July 2002
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment (CAT)
an international human rights treaty, under the review of the United Nations, that aims to prevent torture and other acts of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment around the world. The Convention requires states to take effective measures to prevent torture in any territory under their jurisdiction, and forbids states to transport people to any country where there is reason to believe they will be tortured. The text of the Convention was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1984 and, following ratification by the 20th state party, it came into force on 26 June 1987.
The Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women
an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly. Described as an international bill of rights for women, it was instituted on 3 September 1981 and has been ratified by 189 states
First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
an international treaty establishing an individual complaint mechanism for the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 December 1966, and entered into force on 23 March 1976.
1995 Fourth United Nations Conference on Women (1995)
conference convened by the United Nations during 4-15 September 1995 in Beijing, China. governments from around the world agreed on a comprehensive plan to achieve global legal equality, known as the Beijing Platform for Action. The framework covers 12 areas of concern: 1. Women and the environment 2. Women in power and decision making 3. The girl child 4. Women and the economy 5. Women and poverty 6. Violence against women 7. Human rights of women 8. Education and training of women 9. Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women 10. Women and health 11. Women and the media 12. Women and armed conflict
United Nations World Conference against Racism (2001)
held at the Durban International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa, under UN auspices, from 31 August to 8 September 2001. The conference covered several controversial issues, including redress for transatlantic slavery and the Second-class citizenry issue in Palestine-Israel. The language of the final Declaration and Programme of Action produced by the conference was strongly disputed in these areas, both in the preparatory meetings in the months that preceded the conference and during the conference itself. U.S. and Israel withdrew
Civil Society
refers to the space for collective action around shared interests, purposes and values, generally distinct from government and commercial for-profit actors.
Economic Social and Cultural Rights
right to housing, right to an adequate standard of living, right to health, victims' rights and the right to science and culture. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966 through GA. Resolution 2200A (XXI), and came in force from 3 January 1976.
International Bill of Human Rights
the name given to UN General Assembly Resolution 217 (III) and two international treaties established by the United Nations. It consists of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted in 1948), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, 1966) with its two Optional Protocols and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR, 1966). The two covenants entered into force in 1976, after a sufficient number of countries had ratified them.
Peoples or Collective Rights (Self-Determination)
the right to freely dispose of their natural resources and that in no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence. Also bars discrimination based on race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, or birth.
Civil and Political Rights
the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial. Established by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is a multilateral treaty adopted by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2200A (XXI) on 16 December 1966
The Rome Statues
the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC).It was adopted at a diplomatic conference in Rome, Italy on 17 July 1998 and it entered into force on 1 July 2002. As of November 2019, 123 states are party to the statute. Among other things, the statute establishes the court's functions, jurisdiction and structure. The Rome Statute established four core international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. Those crimes "shall not be subject to any statute of limitations". Under the Rome Statute, the ICC can only investigate and prosecute the four core international crimes in situations where states are "unable" or "unwilling" to do so themselves
San Francisco Conference (United Nations 1945)
The conference was attended by delegations from 46 nations—26 of which had signed the 1942 Declaration of the United Nations, which set forth the Allied aims in World War II—but the leading roles were taken by the foreign ministers of the so-called Big Four nations (US, UK, USSR, France). The San Francisco Conference concluded with the signing of the Charter of the United Nations by 50 nations on June 26. elaboration of UN Charter, International Court of Justice, Security Council
Covenant on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination
The convention was adopted and opened for signature by the United Nations General Assembly on 21 December 1965, and entered into force on 4 January 1969. The Convention is monitored by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The Convention commits its members to the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of understanding among all races. The Convention also requires its parties to outlaw hate speech and criminalize membership in racist organizations.
United Nations Charter
The foundational treaty of the United Nations. The UN Charter mandates that the UN and its member states maintain international peace and security, uphold international law, achieve "higher standards of living" for their citizens, address "economic, social, health, and related problems", and promote "universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion." The Charter entered into force on 24 October 1945, following ratification by the original five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council
