Which international treaties are pivotal for human rights protection?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are pivotal for human rights protection.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected. The UDHR, although not legally binding, has inspired more than 60 human rights instruments which together constitute an international standard of human rights. Today, all United Nations member States have ratified at least one of the nine core international human rights treaties, and 80% have ratified four or more.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966. It commits its parties to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial. As of August 2020, the Covenant has 173 parties and six more signatories without ratification.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966. It commits its parties to work toward the granting of economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR) to individuals, including labour rights and the right to health, the right to education, and the right to an adequate standard of living. As of 2020, the Covenant has 170 parties.

These three documents together form the International Bill of Human Rights, a series of international law instruments to promote and protect human rights. The implementation of these treaties is monitored by the UN Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights respectively.