Table of content
International Human Rights........................................................................................................1
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.................................................................................1
3 generations of rights:............................................................................................................1
First generation rights.................................................................................................................1
ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)..............................................1
Human Rights Committee...................................................................................................1
What are the Civil and Political rights?..............................................................................1
Second generation rights.............................................................................................................2
ICESCR (The International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights)..................2
Third generation rights................................................................................................................4
Equality, Non-discrimination..................................................................................................4
Art. 1 UDHR: Principle of equality and non-discrimination (also see sum. p. 10)............4
Steps of the Court:...............................................................................................................4
Woman’s Rights......................................................................................................................5
CRPD (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)......................................6
International Humanitarian Law.................................................................................................7
Rights during war....................................................................................................................8
Hague Law 1899 + 1907:....................................................................................................8
Geneva Law 1945:..............................................................................................................8
New York Law:...................................................................................................................8
Criminal Law..............................................................................................................................9
International Criminal Court (ICC).........................................................................................9
UN and the International Human Rights Systems......................................................................9
Main Bodies:...........................................................................................................................9
Charter-based bodies:..........................................................................................................9
Treaty-based bodies:.........................................................................................................10
International Refugee Law........................................................................................................10
History:..................................................................................................................................10
1951 Refugee Convention.....................................................................................................10
Definition of a Refugee: (PERSECUTION).....................................................................11
Principle of Non-Discrimination.......................................................................................11
Principle of Non-Refoulement..........................................................................................11
Guarantee of Non-Penalization.........................................................................................11
Loss of Refugee Status......................................................................................................12
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).................................................................................12
European Convention of Human Rights + ECHR....................................................................12
, Council of Europe.................................................................................................................12
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR):.....................................................................12
International Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
This declaration was established in 1948 in order to create a human rights instrument
applicable to all states and peoples across the world. There were difficulties creating the
UDHR. For instance, international obligations; it was not a treaty, so it did not create any
obligations.
President Roosevelt had previously spoken of four essential human freedoms. These later on
became the four fundamental freedoms for both.
Essence of UDHR:
- Preamble: “Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in
barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a
world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom
from fear and want has been proclaimed the highest aspiration of the common
people…”
- In 1966, the United Nations adopted the two Covenants; one on civil and political
rights and the other on economic, social and cultural rights.
3 generations of rights:
1st generation: Civil + political rights (negative obligations)
2nd generation: Economic, Social and Cultural rights (positive obligations)
3rd generation: group rights/collective rights (unclear obligations)
First generation rights
ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)
Human Rights Committee
- Is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the ICCPR by
each State Party. Each State provides reports to the Committee to show how the civil
and political rights are being implemented.
What are the Civil and Political rights?
- Four fundamental freedoms (freedom of speech, -belief, freedom from fear and -want)
1. Freedom of thought (includes religion) (art. 18 UDHR + 18, 27 ICCPR)
2. Freedom of expression (seek, receive and provide information journalism) (art.
19 UDHR + 19, 20 ICCPR)
3. Freedom of association ban political parties? (art. 20 UDHR + 22 ICCPR)
4. Freedom of assembly ban protests? (art. 20 UDHR + 21 ICCPR)
- Right to liberty (art. 9 UDHR + 9 ICCPR)
Regulates State powers to respect, protect and fulfil their obligations.
1
, 1. Respect: Duty to respect HR (negative obligation)
2. Protect: Obligation to protect persons from HR violations. The State is held liable
for failures to protect HR (indirect horizontal effect of HR)
3. Fulfil: Obligation of States to adopt appropriate laws that implement the
international agreements.
margin of appreciation: differences can be made as long as the minimum
standard is achieved, while respecting the cultural, legal and political specificity of
each state.
- Freedom from arbitrary detention (random detention) falls under right to liberty
Detention must be based upon: laws and reasonability
i. Rights for all detainees
1. Right to be informed of reasons for detention.
2. Right to humane treatment. (Art. 10(1) ICCPR)
3. Right to challenge legality of detention (habeas corpus)
4. Remedies for unlawful detention
ii. Rights of those detained on a criminal charge
1. Brought promptly before a judge
2. Trial within a reasonable time or release.
- Right to fair trial
1. Conducting process fairly and organized (proper administration + securing the rule
of law) (art. 10, 11 UDHR)
2. fair and public hearing + trial by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal
(art. 14 ICCPR)
3. equal access + non-discriminatory treatment (art. 26 ICCPR)
Second generation rights
ICESCR (The International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural
Rights)
The States Parties to the Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to
the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural right, this includes rights that address basic
needs, however, they are not limited to just “survival”:
- Right to housing
Respect: no forced evictions
Protect: no unjustified evictions or interference by third parties. Regulations on
quality and availability of housing
Fulfil: Provide housing directly for individuals not able to obtain themselves
- Right to adequate standard of living
State’s obligations are, if necessary, provide subsidiary means to the individual to
provide for himself/herself and children – Art 25 UDHR
- Right to food
Respect: State shall not prevent access to food
Protect: Companies shall not deny access to food
Fulfil: State shall strengthen access to food sources
- Right to health
Available, accessible, acceptable, quality
Critique:
- Vague obligations (for instance: right to health is different here than in a developing
country)
2
International Human Rights........................................................................................................1
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.................................................................................1
3 generations of rights:............................................................................................................1
First generation rights.................................................................................................................1
ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)..............................................1
Human Rights Committee...................................................................................................1
What are the Civil and Political rights?..............................................................................1
Second generation rights.............................................................................................................2
ICESCR (The International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights)..................2
Third generation rights................................................................................................................4
Equality, Non-discrimination..................................................................................................4
Art. 1 UDHR: Principle of equality and non-discrimination (also see sum. p. 10)............4
Steps of the Court:...............................................................................................................4
Woman’s Rights......................................................................................................................5
CRPD (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)......................................6
International Humanitarian Law.................................................................................................7
Rights during war....................................................................................................................8
Hague Law 1899 + 1907:....................................................................................................8
Geneva Law 1945:..............................................................................................................8
New York Law:...................................................................................................................8
Criminal Law..............................................................................................................................9
International Criminal Court (ICC).........................................................................................9
UN and the International Human Rights Systems......................................................................9
Main Bodies:...........................................................................................................................9
Charter-based bodies:..........................................................................................................9
Treaty-based bodies:.........................................................................................................10
International Refugee Law........................................................................................................10
History:..................................................................................................................................10
1951 Refugee Convention.....................................................................................................10
Definition of a Refugee: (PERSECUTION).....................................................................11
Principle of Non-Discrimination.......................................................................................11
Principle of Non-Refoulement..........................................................................................11
Guarantee of Non-Penalization.........................................................................................11
Loss of Refugee Status......................................................................................................12
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).................................................................................12
European Convention of Human Rights + ECHR....................................................................12
, Council of Europe.................................................................................................................12
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR):.....................................................................12
International Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
This declaration was established in 1948 in order to create a human rights instrument
applicable to all states and peoples across the world. There were difficulties creating the
UDHR. For instance, international obligations; it was not a treaty, so it did not create any
obligations.
President Roosevelt had previously spoken of four essential human freedoms. These later on
became the four fundamental freedoms for both.
Essence of UDHR:
- Preamble: “Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in
barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a
world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom
from fear and want has been proclaimed the highest aspiration of the common
people…”
- In 1966, the United Nations adopted the two Covenants; one on civil and political
rights and the other on economic, social and cultural rights.
3 generations of rights:
1st generation: Civil + political rights (negative obligations)
2nd generation: Economic, Social and Cultural rights (positive obligations)
3rd generation: group rights/collective rights (unclear obligations)
First generation rights
ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)
Human Rights Committee
- Is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the ICCPR by
each State Party. Each State provides reports to the Committee to show how the civil
and political rights are being implemented.
What are the Civil and Political rights?
- Four fundamental freedoms (freedom of speech, -belief, freedom from fear and -want)
1. Freedom of thought (includes religion) (art. 18 UDHR + 18, 27 ICCPR)
2. Freedom of expression (seek, receive and provide information journalism) (art.
19 UDHR + 19, 20 ICCPR)
3. Freedom of association ban political parties? (art. 20 UDHR + 22 ICCPR)
4. Freedom of assembly ban protests? (art. 20 UDHR + 21 ICCPR)
- Right to liberty (art. 9 UDHR + 9 ICCPR)
Regulates State powers to respect, protect and fulfil their obligations.
1
, 1. Respect: Duty to respect HR (negative obligation)
2. Protect: Obligation to protect persons from HR violations. The State is held liable
for failures to protect HR (indirect horizontal effect of HR)
3. Fulfil: Obligation of States to adopt appropriate laws that implement the
international agreements.
margin of appreciation: differences can be made as long as the minimum
standard is achieved, while respecting the cultural, legal and political specificity of
each state.
- Freedom from arbitrary detention (random detention) falls under right to liberty
Detention must be based upon: laws and reasonability
i. Rights for all detainees
1. Right to be informed of reasons for detention.
2. Right to humane treatment. (Art. 10(1) ICCPR)
3. Right to challenge legality of detention (habeas corpus)
4. Remedies for unlawful detention
ii. Rights of those detained on a criminal charge
1. Brought promptly before a judge
2. Trial within a reasonable time or release.
- Right to fair trial
1. Conducting process fairly and organized (proper administration + securing the rule
of law) (art. 10, 11 UDHR)
2. fair and public hearing + trial by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal
(art. 14 ICCPR)
3. equal access + non-discriminatory treatment (art. 26 ICCPR)
Second generation rights
ICESCR (The International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural
Rights)
The States Parties to the Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to
the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural right, this includes rights that address basic
needs, however, they are not limited to just “survival”:
- Right to housing
Respect: no forced evictions
Protect: no unjustified evictions or interference by third parties. Regulations on
quality and availability of housing
Fulfil: Provide housing directly for individuals not able to obtain themselves
- Right to adequate standard of living
State’s obligations are, if necessary, provide subsidiary means to the individual to
provide for himself/herself and children – Art 25 UDHR
- Right to food
Respect: State shall not prevent access to food
Protect: Companies shall not deny access to food
Fulfil: State shall strengthen access to food sources
- Right to health
Available, accessible, acceptable, quality
Critique:
- Vague obligations (for instance: right to health is different here than in a developing
country)
2
