A Guide to the Universal Human Rights Instruments
The International Bill of Rights, the core human rights treaties, and other universal instruments relating to human rights are listed in this non-exhaustive guide.
The International Bill of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The Core International Human Rights Instruments
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Convention on the Rights of the Child
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
World Conference on Human Rights and Millennium Assembly
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
United Nations Millennium Declaration
Freedom of Association
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
Rights of the Child
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (CRC-OPSC)
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (CRC-OPAC)
Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)
War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, Including Genocide
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity
Principles of international co-operation in the detection, arrest, extradition and punishment of persons guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity
Statute of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
Statute of the International Tribunal for Rwanda
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons
Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons
Principles for the protection of persons with mental illness and the improvement of mental health care
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
Prevention of Discrimination
Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)
Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice
Convention against Discrimination in Education
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
Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
World Conference against Racism, 2001 (Durban Declaration and Programme of Action)
Right to Health
Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS
Humanitarian Law
Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War
Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I)
Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II)
Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Minorities
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169)
Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities
Human Rights in the Administration of Justice: Protection of Persons Subjected to Detention or Imprisonment
United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules)
Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners
Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment
United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty
Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT)
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
Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty
Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials
Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials
United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (The Tokyo Rules)
United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (The Beijing Rules)
Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System
United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (The Riyadh Guidelines)
Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power
Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary
Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers
Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors
Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions
Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules) (PDF)
Updated Set of principles for the protection and promotion of human rights through action to combat impunity
Marriage
Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages
Recommendation on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages
Rights of Migrants
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICPMW)
Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
Nationality, Statelessness, Asylum and Refugees
Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness
Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees
Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals who are not nationals of the country in which they live
RIGHTS OF OLDER PERSONS
United Nations Principles for Older Persons
Rights of Peasants
Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (PDF)
Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
Principles relating to the status of national institutions (The Paris Principles)
Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training
The Right of Self-Determination
United Nations Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
General Assembly resolution 1803 (XVII) of 14 December 1962, “Permanent sovereignty over natural resources”
International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries
Slavery, Slavery-Like Practices and Forced Labour
Slavery Convention
Protocol amending the Slavery Convention signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926
Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery
Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
Social Welfare, Progress and Development
Declaration on Social Progress and Development
Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition
Declaration on the Use of Scientific and Technological Progress in the Interests of Peace and for the Benefit of Mankind
Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace
Declaration on the Right to Development
Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights
Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity
Rights of Women
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW-OP)
Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict
Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women
Right to Work and to Fair Conditions of Employment
Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122)
Also available:
Ratifications and Reservations
Status of ratifications and signatures of human rights instruments
CD Compilation of International instruments – Universal instruments
Conventions, Declarations and Other Instruments found in General Assembly Resolutions (since 1946)