UN Human Rights Law
- UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) 1965
Ratified: 1969
Monitored by: The Executive Office
CERD commits the Government to the elimination of racial discrimination based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin and requires the promotion of understanding among all races. This means that all Civil Servants are obliged not to discriminate on the basis of race and not to sponsor or defend racism. The Government must prohibit racial discrimination within their jurisdictions. The Convention also requires the Government to criminalise hate speech, which includes acts of, or the incitement to, racial discrimination and violence.
- UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) 1966
Ratified: 1976
Monitored by: The Executive Office
The ICCPR commits the Government to guarantee civil and political rights, such as the right to life, freedom of religion or the right to a fair trial. The ICCPR was elaborated alongside ICESCR to develop the rights of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into a legally binding treaty. The three documents are commonly referred to as the ‘International Bill of Human Rights’.
The ICCPR was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966 and entered into force in 1976.
- UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) 1966
Ratified: 1976
Monitored by: The Executive Office
ICESCR was adopted in 1966 and entered into force in 1976. The Covenant protects the economic, social and cultural rights of all individuals, including rights such as the right to health, the right to education and the right to work. The ICESCR was elaborated alongside ICCPR to develop the rights of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into a legally binding treaty. The three documents are commonly referred to as the ‘International Bill of Human Rights’.
- UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) 1979
Ratified: 1986
Monitored by: Department for Communities
CEDAW came into force in 1981 and is a landmark international agreement that affirms fundamental human rights and equality for women and girls. By ratifying the Convention, the NI Executive and Departments must take a range of measures to eliminate prejudices against women and girls and end discrimination based on sex or gender. This includes adopting legislation and temporary special measures, so women have equal opportunities and access to enjoy all their human rights.
The UK has also ratified the Optional Protocol to CEDAW, which gives the Committee the authority to receive individual complaints, to conduct inquiries and country visits, as well as to adopt interim measures. Interim measures are requests to the UK to take urgent provisional measures to avoid irreparable damage to a victim or victims of an alleged violation.
- UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) 2006
Ratified: 2009
Monitored by: Department for Communities
The CRPD is the first UN treaty of the 21st Century and entered into force in 2008. The purpose of CRPD is “to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity”.
The Convention adopts a social model of disability rather than a medical one, focusing on the attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. The Government must therefore remove the social barriers by taking measures to facilitate full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of their human rights and their full inclusion and participation in the community.
The UK has also ratified the Optional Protocol to CRPD, which gives the Department the authority to receive individual complaints, to conduct inquiries and country visits, as well as to adopt interim measures. Interim measures are requests to the UK to take urgent provisional measures to avoid irreparable damage to a victim or victims of an alleged violation of the CRPD.
- UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) 1984
Ratified: 1988
Monitored by: Department of Justice
CAT defines torture and commits States to take effective measures to prevent any act of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It also forbids the Government to expel, return or extradite individuals to any country where there is reason to believe they will be tortured. Further, any allegation of such treatment must be investigated promptly.
The UK has also ratified the Optional Protocol to CAT (OPCAT), which establishes the Subcommittee on Prevention. By signing up to OPCAT, the UK allows the Subcommittee on Prevention to visit “any place under its jurisdiction and control where persons are or may be deprived of their liberty”. This includes public and private custodial settings.
- UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 1989
Ratified: 1991
Monitored by: Department of Education
CRC sets out the rights of all children below the age of 18. Coming into force in 1990, it requires that the Government acts in the best interests of the child and to allow parents to exercise their parental responsibilities. The Convention also acknowledges that children have the right to express their opinions and to have those opinions heard and acted upon when appropriate; to be protected from abuse or exploitation, and to have their privacy protected.
The UK has also ratified the Optional Protocol to CRC on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and the Optional Protocol to CRC on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.