International human rights instruments can be divided into global instruments, in which every State in the world can be involved, and regional instruments, which are limited to States in a specific region of the world. Human rights are a cross-cutting issue in all United Nations policies and programmes in the key areas of peace and security, development, humanitarian assistance, economics and social affairs. As a result, virtually all United Nations bodies and agencies are involved to some extent in the protection of human rights. The right to development, which is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals, is an example of this; the right to food defended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, labour rights defined and protected by the International Labour Organization, gender equality proclaimed by UN Women, the rights of children, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities. Everyone has the equal right to a fair and public trial before an independent and impartial tribunal to determine his or her rights and obligations and to a criminal charge against him. The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families aims to ensure that migrant workers enjoy the full protection of their human rights, regardless of their legal status. Treaty bodies are committees of independent experts that monitor the implementation of United Nations (UN) human rights treaties in all signatory states. They take into account States` reports on progress in the implementation of human rights under the treaty they monitor and issue binding interpretations (usually called general remarks or general recommendations) on the status of States` obligations under the treaty. Most treaty bodies may also consider complaints from individuals and groups and make recommendations if they believe that their rights under the treaty have been violated and have been denied a remedy at the national level. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights entered into force in 1976.

The human rights that the Covenant seeks to promote and protect include: This Declaration sets minimum standards for the enjoyment of individual and collective rights by indigenous peoples. These include the right to participate effectively in decision-making on issues that affect them and the right to pursue their own priorities for economic, social and cultural development. No one shall be tortured or subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. A common effort to protect the human rights of stateless persons Everyone has the right to an effective remedy before the competent national courts for acts that violate the fundamental rights granted to him by the Constitution or the law. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities. It includes the right to health, education, employment, accessibility and non-discrimination. The Optional Protocol provides for an individual complaints mechanism. Today is International Human Rights Day – the perfect time to reflect on how the United States views key human rights treaties. In the past, the Leaders` Conference on Civil and Human Rights has worked to ratify four treaties – the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide – and is currently working to promote the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (CRPD) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), although there are a number of other international human rights instruments.

Here are four that the United States has ratified, four that have been signed (but not yet ratified), and two that have not even been signed: everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and has the right to realization, through national efforts and international cooperation, and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, the economic, social and cultural rights that are essential to its dignity and the free development of its personality. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has primary responsibility for the human rights activities of the United Nations. The Mandate of the High Commissioner is to respond to serious human rights violations and to take preventive measures. One of the great achievements of the United Nations is the creation of a comprehensive human rights law – a universal and internationally protected code to which all nations can subscribe and aspire. The United Nations has defined a wide range of internationally recognized rights, including civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. It has also established mechanisms to promote and protect those rights and to assist States in fulfilling their responsibilities. .