Topic 4: International Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, agreed upon and signed in 1948, has evolved and expanded into a body of International Human Rights law.

The two main documents are the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

A Covenant is an agreement by parties that make binding promises to each other and work together to reach a common goal. There are also Covenants addressing violations of the rights of specific groups and specific parts of the world.

Examples are

UNCRC – UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

CEDAW – Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

CEDAW’s inquiry procedure would be activated in response to serious violations of women’s rights by a state party, that is, a country that is a party to the Convention. If the CEDAW Committee receives reliable information indicating there have been serious or systematic violations, it can initiate the procedure. Complaints can also be submitted by victims of violations of CEDAW. The full procedure can be found on the website of the OHCHR, the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the UN.

ACHPR – African Charter for Human and People’s Rights

The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (also known as the Banjul Charter) is an international human rights instrument that is intended to promote and protect human rights and basic freedoms in the African continent.

Oversight and interpretation of the Charter is the task of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which was set up in 1987 and is now headquartered in Banjul, Gambia. A protocol to the Charter was subsequently adopted in 1998 whereby an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights was to be created. The protocol came into effect on 25 January 2005.

ARTICLE 46 of the ACHPR

The Commission may resort to any appropriate method of investigation; it may hear from the Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity or any other person capable of enlightening it.