Human Rights
In this section
Introduction
Human rights are commonly understood as the inalienable rights to which a person is entitled merely for being human. They are built on underlying principles of universality, equality and non-discrimination, and are enshrined in treaties, rules of customary international law, national laws and other standards that define them and help to guarantee their full enjoyment. Human rights apply to all individuals, including forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
Legal Instruments
Treaties and Declarations
Declarations
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UN General Assembly, 10 December 1948
American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, IACHR, 2 May 1948
ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, ASEAN, 18 November 2012
Core Treaties
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, UN General Assembly, 21 December 1965
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 16 December 1966 & Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 5 March 2009 & Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty, 15 December 1989, UN General Assembly
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 18 December 1979 & Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 6 October 1999, UN General Assembly
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 10 December 1984 & Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 9 January 2003, UN General Assembly
Convention on the Rights of the Child, 20 November 1989, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, 16 March 2001, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, 25 May 2000, General Assembly & Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, 14 July 2011, UN Human Rights Council
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, UN General Assembly, 18 December 1990
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 24 January 2007 & Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 13 December 2006, UN General Assembly
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, UN General Assembly, 20 December 2006
Regional Treaties
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Organization of African Unity, 27 June 1981
American Convention on Human Rights, Organization of American States, 22 November 1969
Arab Charter on Human Rights, League of Arab States, 2004
European Convention on Human Rights, Council of Europe, 4 November 1950
European Social Charter, Council of Europe, 18 October 1961
European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Council of Europe, 26 November 1987
Executive and Standing Committee Documents
Policy Documents
UNHCR and Human Rights
Note on International Protection
Note on International Protection, 19 July 2023
Note on International Protection, 30 June 2008
Other Relevant Links
Refworld
UNHCR Guidance and Tools
E-Learning Modules
Good Practices
Compilation of Good Practices on Engaging with Human Rights Systems (external)
UN Human Rights Mechanisms in Practice – A Good Practice Guide (internal)
UPR Dashboard
National Human Rights Institutions
Racism and Xenophobia
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement