Human Rights Law Research Guide

• The Charter of the United Nations (1945)
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
• Table of Core International Human Rights Treaties & Treaty Monitoring Bodies
   

The Charter of the United Nations

Chapter IX of the UN Charter includes the following provisions:

• Article 55(c) states that the United Nations shall promote "universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion."
   
• Article 56 provides that "[a]ll members pledge themselves to take joint and separate action in cooperation with the Organization [the UN] for the achievement and purposes set forth in Article 55."

Together, these two provisions create an obligation on the part of member states to observe and respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.

During the decades that followed the ratification of the Charter, the General Assembly has established several institutional mechanisms, known as charter bodies, to monitor member states's compliance with their human rights obligations under the Charter and to document gross and systemic violations of those obligations.
 

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by resolution of the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948.  Although it is not a legally binding instrument, the Declaration was adopted for the purpose of defining the "human rights" and "fundamental freedoms" referenced in Article 55(c) of the UN Charter, which all UN member states are obligated to observe and respect.  

The Declaration has proven to be enduring and influential.  Many UN member stats have incorporated the principles set forth in the Declaration in their national constitutions.  These principles also provide a foundation for many of the core human rights treaties subsequently drafted under the auspices of the UN and for regional treaties and national laws enacted to safeguard human rights. 

The Declaration and two of the core human rights treaties -- the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights -- are sometimes referred to collectively as the International Bill of Rights.
 

Table of Core International Human Rights Treaties & Treaty Monitoring Bodies

Of the many human rights instruments drafted under its auspices, the UN has designated nine of them as core international human rights treaties.  They include a treaty on civil and political rights; a treaty on economic, social, and cultural rights; treaties to combat racial and gender-based discrimination; treaties prohibiting torture and forced disappearances; and treaties protecting the rights of children, migrant workers, and persons with disabilities.

For each of these core treaties, the UN has established a panel of independent experts, known as a treaty body, that is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the treaty by the state parties that have ratified it. 

The table below provides quick links to the full text of each of the core international human rights treaties, as well as any optional protocols (supplements) thereto, and a link to the website of the corresponding treaty body.