IHR/UDHRactivityfive
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) carries enormous moral weight, as it is agreed upon by the international community, but a declaration is not legally binding. A convention or covenant, by contrast, is legally binding upon states that ratify it. The same day the UN General Assembly passed the UDHR, it began the process that led to two covenants on human rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
What is known as the International Bill of Human Rights is made up of:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Examine the two Covenants below. What legal obligations do they impose upon states that ratify them?
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
