ADVICE

Here are some Human Rights Questions and Answers:

WHAT ARE THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS?

The International Covenants on Human Rights are treaties whose States Parties – i.e. nations which have formally agreed to abide by their provisions – undertake to respect, ensure and take steps for the full achievement of a wide range of rights. There are two such Covenants: The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Both were adopted by the General Assembly and opened for signature in December 1966 and both entered into force in 1976.

The Covenants recognize and define in more detail most of the rights set out in the Universal Declaration, and deal with some additional rights as well. Each Covenant also sets up a mechanism through which United Nations bodies oversee the implementation by States parties of the rights protected. A Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has been established by the Economic and Social Council to review States parties’ progress in implementing the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The implementation of Civil and Political Covenant is in the hands of another body of independent experts, the Human Rights Committee.