Human rights documents United Nations Council of Europe Organization of American States Organization of African Unity International Labour Organization United States of America Documents des droits humaines Nations Unie Conseil de l'Europe États Unie d'Amerique Organisation des États Américains Organisation de l'Unité Africaine Organisation internationale de Travail Ecumenical documents Documents of ecumenical agencies Ecumenical dialogues Interreligious documents Church documents Anabaptist Anglican Evangelical Lutheran Orthodox Reformed & Presbyterian Roman & Eastern Catholic United & Uniting Miscellaneous churches Additional documents Academic journals Ancient & Medieval texts Bibliographies Human rights documents Documents œcuméniques Dialogues œcuméniques Documents interreligieux Documents des organisations œcuméniques Documents ecclésiaux Anabaptistes et mennonites Anglicanes Catholiques Évangéliques Luthériennes Orthodoxes Réformées et Calvinistes Unies et unifiantes Églises diverses Documents additionnelles Bibliographes Documents des droits humaines Journaux intellectuels Textes antiques et médiévaux

These documents are concerned with the respect for fundamental rights and freedoms. Many of these documents are treaties, charters, conventions and protocols entered into by national governments. The comprehensive scope of this web of international law provides an insight into the continuing international protection and respect for human rights.

The documents are sorted according to the responsible international body. Some links are also provided relating to the USA and its treatment of human rights in domestic legislation.

United Nations / Nations Unies

• International charter of human rights / Charte internationale des droits de l'homme
  • Déclaration universelle des droits de l´homme - DUDH
  • Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (1976)
    • Protocole facultatif se rapportant au Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (1976)
    • Deuxième protocole facultatif se rapportant au Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques, visant à abolir la peinede mort (1991)
  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976)
    • Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976)
    • Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty (1991)
  • Pacte international relatif aux droits économiques, sociaux et culturels
  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
• War crimes,  crimes against humanity including genocide /
  Crimes de guerre et crimes contre l'humanité y compris le génocide
  • Principes de la cooperation internationale en ce qui concerne le depistage, l'arrestation, l'extradition et le chatiment des individus coupables de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l'humanite
  • Convention sur l'imprescriptibilité des crimes de guerre
  • Control Council Law No. 10, Punishment of Persons Guilty of War Crimes, Crimes Against Peace and Against Humanity (1946)
  • Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity (1968)
    Français
  • Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (entered into force 1951) Français
  • International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Rules of Procedure and Evidence (1995)
  • Nuremberg Rules, in Agreement for the Prosecution and Punishment of the Major War Criminals of the European Axis   (entered into force 1945)
  • Principles of International Co-Operation in the Detection, Arrest, Extradition and Punishment of Persons Guilty of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity (1973)
  • The Princeton Principles on Universal Jurisdiction 28
    Princeton University Program in Law and Public Affairs (2001)
  • International Criminal Court, Elements of Crimes (2000) Français | Español
  • International Criminal Court, Rules of Procedure and Evidence (2000) Français | Español
  • Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998, entered into force 2002)
    
• Defence of human rights / Défenseurs des droits humains
  • Déclaration sur le droit et la responsabilité des individus, groupes et organes de la société de promouvoir et protéger les droits de l'homme et les libertés fondamentales universellement reconnus (1999)
  • Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1999)
  • Déclaration de Paris / Projet final soumis pour adoption aux états généraux des défenseurs des droits humains
• Humanitarian rights / Droit humanitaire
  • Convention de Genève relative à la protection des personnes civiles en temps de guerre du 12 août 1949
  • Convention de Genève relative au traitement des prisonniers de guerre
  • Protocole additionnel aux Conventions de Genève du 12 août 1949 (Protocole I)
  • Protocole additionnel aux Conventions de Genève du 12 août 1949 (Protocole II)
• Children's right / Droits de l'enfant
  • Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990)
    • Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflicts (2002)
    • Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (2002)
  • Convention relative aux droits de l'enfant (1990)
  • Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959)
  • Déclaration des droits de l'enfant (1959)
• Women's rights / Droits des femmes
  • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (The Women's Convention or CEDAW)
    • Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (2000), entered into force Dec. 22, 2000.
  • Convention sur l'élimination de toutes les formes de discrimination à l'égard des femmes
  • Convention on the Political Rights of Women (1954)
  • Convention sur les droits politiques de la femme
  • Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (1993)
  • Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict  (1974)
  • Déclaration sur la protection des femmes et des enfants en période d'urgence et de conflit armé (1974)
  • Déclaration sur l'élimination de la violence à l'égard des femmes (1993)
  • Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995)
    • Declaration and Platform of Action
  • La quatrième Conférence mondiale sur les femmes (Beijing, 1995)
    • Déclaration et Programme d'Action
  • Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
    • Protocol to Prevent, Supress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
    • Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air
  • Convention contre la criminalité transnationale organisé
    • Protocole à Prevénir, Réprimer et Punir la Traite des Personnes, en Particulier des Femmes et des Enfants
    • Protocole Contre Le Trafic Illicite de Migrants par Terre, Air et Mer
• Slavery & forced labour / Esclavage, servitude et travail forcé
  • Convention relative à l'esclavage (1927)
    • Protocole amendant la Convention relative à l'esclavage (1953)
    • Convention supplémentaire relative à l'abolition de l'esclavage, de la traite des esclaves et des institutions et pratiques analogues àl'esclavage (1957)
  • Slavery Convention (1927)
    • Protocol amending the Slavery Convention, (1953)
    • Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery (1957)
  • Convention sur l'abolition du travail forcé
  • Convention sur le travail forcé
  • Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (1951)
  • Convention pour la répression de la traite des êtres humains et de l'exploitation de la prostitution d'autrui (1951)
• Discrimination
  • Convention internationale sur l'élimination de toutes les formes de discrimination raciale (1969)
  • Convention internationale sur l'élimination et la répression du crime d'apartheid
  • International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969)
  • Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (1982)
  • Déclaration sur la race et les préjugés raciaux (1982)
  • Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (1981)
  • Déclaration sur l'élimination de toutes les formes d'intolérance et de discrimination fondées sur la religion ou la conviction (1981)
  • World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (Durban. South Africa, 2001)
    • Declaration (September 8, 2001)
    • Programme of Action (September 8, 2001)
• Criminal  justice / L'administration de la justice
  • Code de conduite pour les responsables de l'application des lois
  • Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
  • Convention contre la torture et autres peines ou traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants
  • Ensemble de principes pour la protection de toutes les personnes soumises à une forme quelconque de détention ou d'emprisonnement
  • Ensemble de règles minima pour le traitement des détenus
  • Garanties pour la protection des droits des personnes passibles de la peine de mort
  • Principes d'éthique médicale applicables au rôle du personnel de santé, en particulier des médecins, dans la protection des prisonniers et des détenus contre la torture et autres peines ou traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants
  • Principes fondamentaux relatifs au traitement des détenus
  • Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty
  • Deuxième protocole facultatif se rapportant au Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques, visant à abolir la peinede mort
  • Juveniles
    • United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty (1990) Français | Español
    • United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (The Riyadh Guidelines) (1990) Français | Español
    • United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice ("The Beijing Rules") (1985) Français | Español
• Freedom of association / Liberté d'association
  • Convention sur la liberté syndicale et la protection du droit syndical
• Indigenous peoples
  • Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries (1991) Français | Español
  • Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (1994) Français | Español
  • Proposed American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (1997)
• Development
  • Declaration on Social Progress and Development (1969) Français | Español
  • Declaration on the Use of Scientific and Technological Progress in the Interests of Peace and for the Benefit of Mankind (1975) Français | Español
  • Declaration on the Right to Development (1986) Français | Español
  • Draft Declaration of Principles on Human Rights and the Environment (1994)
• Refugees
  • International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
  • Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (1954) Français | Español
  • Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees (1967) Français | Español
  • Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (1950) Français | Español
  • Declaration on Territorial Asylum (1967) Français | Español
  • Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (1998)
  • UNHCR Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status (PDF)
  • U.N. Commission on Human Rights Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment regarding the situation of immigrants and asylum seekers (1999)
  • International Case Law Relating to Refugees and Asylum Seekers:
    • Australia: Refugee Review Tribunal
    • Belgium: Permanent Refugee Appeals Commission
    • New Zealand: RefNZ Case Search
    • U.S.: Board of Immigration Appeals
    • U.S.: Selected Refugee Cases from Federal Circuit Courts (1994-97)  
  • Links to other sites with information on refugees and aid agencies
• Miscellaneous
  • Colombo Plan of Action for the Elimination of Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children
  • Declaration on Fundamental Principles concerning the Contribution to the Mass Media to Strengthening Peace and International Understanding, to the Promotion of Human Rights and to Countering Racialism, Apartheid and Incitement to War (1978)
  • Déclaration sur les principes fondamentaux concernant la contribution des organes d'information au renforcement de la paix et de la compréhension internationale, à la promotion des droits de l'homme et à la lutte contre le racisme, l'apartheid et l'incitation à la guerre (1978)
  • Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious or Linguistic Minorities (1993)
  • Déclaration des droits des personnes appartenant à des minorités nationales ou ethniques, religieuses et linguistiques (1993)
  • Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (1961)
  • Déclaration sur l'octroi de l'indépendance aux pays et aux peuples coloniaux (1961)
  • International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
  • Pacte international relatif aux droits économiques, sociaux et culturels
  • Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources (1962)
  • Souveraineté permanente sur les ressources naturelles (1962)
  • Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages (entered into force 1964) Français | Español
  • Recommendation on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages (1965) Français | Español
  • Convention against Discrimination in Education (1962) Français | Español
  • Protocol Instituting a Conciliation and Good Offices Commission to be responsible for Seeking a Settlement of any Disputes which may arise between States Parties to the Convention against Discrimination in Education (1968) Français | Español
  • Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition
    adopted by the World Food Conference, Rome, 1974 Français | Español
  • Guidelines for the Regulation of Computerized Personal Data Files (1989) Français | Español
  • Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace (1984) Français | Español
  • The Practice of Forced Evictions: Comprehensive Human Rights Guidelines On Development-Based Displacement
    adopted by the Expert Seminar on the Practice of Forced Evictions, Geneva, 11-13 June 1997. Français
  • Masstricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Maastricht, January 22-26, 1997.
  • Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights 
    Français
  • Caux Round Table Principles for Business, Français | Español
  • Guidelines recommended by the expert participants for States on the promotion and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms in the context of HIV/AIDS (1997) Français | Español
  • OECD Development Assistance Committee Guidelines on Conflict, Peace and Development Co-operation (1995) Français | Español
  • International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights (1997)
  • Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (1999)
  • Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons (1971) Français | Español
  • Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illnesses and the Improvement of Mental Health Care (1991) Français | Español
  • Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons (1975) Français | Español

Organization of American States (OAS)
L'Organisation des États Américains (OEA)

• Convention américaine relative aux droits de l'homme
• Convention américaine sur les droits de l'homme " pacte de San José de Costa Rica "
• Convention interaméricaine pour la prévention et la répression de la torture
• Convention interaméricaine sur la disparition forcée des personnes
• Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence Against Women "Convention of Belém do Pará"  (1995)
• Convention interaméricaine sur la prévention, la sanction et l'élimination de la violence contre la femme "convention de Belém do Pará" (1995)
• Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Civil Rights to Women (1949) Español
• Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Political Rights of Women (1949) Español
• Inter-American Convention on the Nationality of Women (1934) Español
• Déclaration américaine des droits et des devoirs
• Protocole additionnel à la convention américaine relative aux droits de l'homme traitant des droits économiques, sociaux et culturels - "protocole de San Salvador"
• Protocole a la convention américaine relative aux droits de l'homme traitant de l'abolition de la peine de mort
• Règlement de la commission interaméricaine des droits de l'homme
• Règlement de la cour interaméricaine des droits de l'homme
• Statut de la commission interaméricaine des droits de l'homme
• Statut de la cour interaméricaine des droits de l'homme
• Charter of the Organizaton of American States (1951, 1990) Español
• Protocol of Amendment to the Charter of the Organization of American States "Protocol of Buenos Aires" (1970) Español
• Protocol of Amendment to the Charter of the Organization of American States "Protocol of Cartagena de Indias" (1988) Español
• Protocol of Amendment to the Charter of the Organization of American States "Protocol of Managua" (1996) Español
• Protocol of Amendment to the Charter of the Organization of American States "Protocol of Washington" (1997) Español
• American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man (1948, 1992) Español
• American Convention on Human Rights (1978, 1992) Français | Español
• Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1988, 1992) Español
• Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty (1990, 1992) Español
• Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture (1987, 1992) Français | Español
• Statute of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (1980, 1992) Español
• Regulations of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (1992) Español
• Statute of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights (1980, 1992) Español
• Rules of Procedure of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights (1992) Español

Council of Europe / Conseil de l'Europe

• Convention de sauvegarde des droits de l'homme et des libertés fondamentales
• Convention européenne pour la prévention de la torture et des peines ou traitements inhumains ou dégradants
• [European] Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1953, 1970, 1971, 1990) Français
• Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1954) Français
• Protocol No. 2 to the 1950 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1970) Français
• Protocol No. 3 to the 1950 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1970) Français
• Protocol No. 4 to the 1950 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1968) Français
• Protocol No. 5 to the 1950 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1971) Français
• Protocol No. 6 to the 1950 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1985) Français
• Protocol No. 7 to the 1950 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1988) Français
• Protocol No. 8 to the 1950 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1990) Français
• Protocol No. 9 to the 1950 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1994) Français
• Protocol No. 10 to the 1950 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1992) Français
• Protocol No. 11 to the 1950 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1994) Français
• European Social Charter (1965) Français
• Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter (1988), not in force Français
• Protocol Amending the European Social Charter (1991), not in force Français
• European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1989) Français
• Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Français
• Protocol No. 2 to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
  Français

Organization of African Unity (OAU)
Organisation de l'Unité Africaine (OUA)

• African [Banjul] Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (1981, entered into force 1986)
• African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1990, entered into force 1999)
• The Addis Ababa Document on Refugees and Forced Population Displacements in Africa
  Adopted by the OAU/UNHCR Symposium on Refugees and Forced Population Displacements in Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 8-10 September 1994.
• Charte Africaine des Droits de l'Homme et des Peuples (1981, entré en vigueur 1986)
• Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa (1974)
• Convention de l'oua Regissant les Aspects propres aux problems de réfugiés en Afrique (1974)
• Declaration on a Code of Conduct for Inter-African Relations
  Assembly of Heads of State and Government, Thirtieth Ordinary Session, Tunis, Tunisia, 13-15 June 1994.
• The Dar es Salaam Declaration on Academic Freedom and Social Responsibility of Academics (1990)
• The Kampala Declaration on Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility (1990)
• The Khartoum Declaration on Africa's Refugee Crisis, September (1990)

International Labour Organization (ILO)
Organisation internationale de Travail

• Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (ILO No. 182) (2000)
• Convention sur les pires formes de travail des enfants (ILO No. 182) (2000)
• Convention on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (ILO No. 87) (1950)
• Convention sur la liberté syndicale et la protection du droit syndical (ILO No. 87) (1950)
• Convention on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (ILO No. 98) (1951)
• Convention sur le droit d'organisation et de négociation collective (ILO No. 98) (1951)
• Convention on Workers' Representatives (ILO No. 135) (1973)
• Convention concernant les reprsentants des travailleurs (ILO No. 135) (1973)
• Convention on Labour Relations in Public Service (ILO No. 151) (1981)
• Convention sur les relations de travail dans la fonction publique (ILO No. 151) (1981)
• Employment and Forced Labour
  • Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour (ILO No. 29) (1932) Français | Español
  • Equal Remuneration Convention (ILO No. 100) (1953) Français | Español
  • Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (ILO No. 105) (1959) Français | Español
  • Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (ILO No. 111) (1960) Français | Español
  • Employment Policy Convention (ILO No. 122) (1965) Français | Español
  • Convention concerning the Promotion of Collective Bargaining (ILO No. 154) (1983) Français | Español
  • Convention concerning Occupational Safety and Health and the Working Environment (ILO No. 155) (1983) Français | Español
  • Convention concerning Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment (ILO No. 168) (1991) Français | Español
  • Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (ILO No. 182) (2000) Français | Español
  • International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (1990) Français | Español
  • Migration for Employment (Revised) (ILO No. 97) (1952) Français | Español

United States of America / États Unie d'Amerique

• U.S. human rights legislation
• U.S. reservations, declarations, and understandings to human rights treaties
• Core U.S. human rights report to Human Rights Committee
• First U.S. human rights report to the Human Rights Committee (1994)
• Initial Report of the United States to the United Nations Committee on The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (2000)
• Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee on the First U.S. Report to the Committee
• Concluding Observations of the Committee Against Torture on the First U.S. Report to the Committee
• Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: United States of America (2001)
• Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000: Trafficking in Persons Report, U.S. Department of State (2001)
• U.S. Department of State Human Rights Reports (2000)
• U.S. historical documents
• Other U.S. human rights documents
• U.S. government information links
• Selected Refugee Cases from Federal Circuit Courts (1994-97)