International Human Rights Law

The international human rights movement was
strengthened when the United Nations General Assembly
adopted of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR) on 10 December 1948. Drafted as ‘a common
standard of achievement for all peoples and nations',
the Declaration for the first time in human history spell
out basic civil, political, economic, social and cultural
rights that all human beings should enjoy. It has over
time been widely accepted as the fundamental norms of
human rights that everyone should respect and protect.
The UDHR, together with the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights and its two Optional Protocols,
and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights, form the so - called International Bill of
Human Rights .
A series of international human rights treaties and other
instruments adopted since 1945 have conferred legal
form on inherent human rights and developed the body
of international human rights. Other instruments have
been adopted at the regional level reflecting the
particular human rights concerns of the region and
providing for specific mechanisms of protection. Most
States have also adopted constitutions and other laws
which formally protect basic human rights. While
international treaties and customary law form the
backbone of international human rights law other
instruments, such as declarations, guidelines and
principles adopted at the international level contribute
to its understanding, implementation and development.
Respect for human rights requires the establishment of
the rule of law at the national and international levels.
International human rights law lays down obligations
which States are bound to respect. By becoming parties
to international treaties, States assume obligations and
duties under international law to respect, to protect and
to fulfil human rights. The obligation to respect means
that States must refrain from interfering with or curtailing
the enjoyment of human rights. The obligation to protect
requires States to protect individuals and groups against
human rights abuses. The obligation to fulfil means that
States must take positive action to facilitate the
enjoyment of basic human rights.
Through ratification of international human rights
treaties , Governments undertake to put into place
domestic measures and legislation compatible with their
treaty obligations and duties. Where domestic legal
proceedings fail to address human rights abuses,
mechanisms and procedures for individual complaints or
communications are available at the regional and
international levels to help ensure that international
human rights standards are indeed respected,
implemented, and enforced at the local level.

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