International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
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The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is an international human rights treaty that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966. It entered into force in 1976 and has been ratified by a large number of countries. The ICCPR, along with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, forms the International Bill of Human Rights, which sets out the fundamental rights and freedoms that should be universally protected.
The ICCPR is a legally binding treaty that aims to protect and promote civil and political rights. It recognises the inherent dignity and equal rights of all individuals and covers a wide range of civil and political rights, including:
Right to life: The ICCPR recognises the inherent right to life and prohibits arbitrary deprivation of life.
Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment: The covenant prohibits torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
Right to liberty and security of person: Individuals have the right to be free from arbitrary arrest or detention and to be informed promptly of the reasons for their arrest or detention.
Right to a fair trial: The ICCPR guarantees the right to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal, and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief: The covenant protects the freedom of individuals to hold and express their thoughts, beliefs, and religious convictions.
Freedom of expression: The ICCPR safeguards the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas.
Right to peaceful assembly: Individuals have the right to peaceful assembly and to participate in public affairs.
Right to freedom of association: The ICCPR protects the right to form and join associations, including political parties and trade unions.
Equality before the law: The covenant guarantees the right to equal protection under the law and prohibits discrimination on various grounds, such as race, sex, religion, or national origin.
Right to privacy: Individuals have the right to privacy, including protection against arbitrary or unlawful interference with their privacy, family, home, or correspondence.
The ICCPR has played a significant role in shaping international human rights standards and provides a framework for promoting and protecting civil and political rights globally. States that have ratified the ICCPR are legally bound to respect, protect, and fulfil the rights enshrined in the treaty. They are required to take legislative, judicial, and administrative measures to ensure the effective enjoyment of these rights by individuals within their jurisdiction. The ICCPR also establishes a committee, the Human Rights Committee, which monitors the implementation of the covenant by states parties through regular reporting and dialogue.
The ICCPR is a legally binding treaty that aims to protect and promote civil and political rights. It recognises the inherent dignity and equal rights of all individuals and covers a wide range of civil and political rights, including:
Right to life: The ICCPR recognises the inherent right to life and prohibits arbitrary deprivation of life.
Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment: The covenant prohibits torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
Right to liberty and security of person: Individuals have the right to be free from arbitrary arrest or detention and to be informed promptly of the reasons for their arrest or detention.
Right to a fair trial: The ICCPR guarantees the right to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal, and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief: The covenant protects the freedom of individuals to hold and express their thoughts, beliefs, and religious convictions.
Freedom of expression: The ICCPR safeguards the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas.
Right to peaceful assembly: Individuals have the right to peaceful assembly and to participate in public affairs.
Right to freedom of association: The ICCPR protects the right to form and join associations, including political parties and trade unions.
Equality before the law: The covenant guarantees the right to equal protection under the law and prohibits discrimination on various grounds, such as race, sex, religion, or national origin.
Right to privacy: Individuals have the right to privacy, including protection against arbitrary or unlawful interference with their privacy, family, home, or correspondence.
The ICCPR has played a significant role in shaping international human rights standards and provides a framework for promoting and protecting civil and political rights globally. States that have ratified the ICCPR are legally bound to respect, protect, and fulfil the rights enshrined in the treaty. They are required to take legislative, judicial, and administrative measures to ensure the effective enjoyment of these rights by individuals within their jurisdiction. The ICCPR also establishes a committee, the Human Rights Committee, which monitors the implementation of the covenant by states parties through regular reporting and dialogue.