Human Rights | United Nations Association Of Central Pennsylvania

The UN and Human Rights

The UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR) in December 1948 as resolution 217 (III).

The UNDHR, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its two Optional Protocols (on the death penalty and complaints procedures), along with International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and its Optional Protocols form what is commonly known as the International Bill of Rights.

In total, there are 9 Core International Human Rights Instruments and monitoring bodies. The US is a signatory to only a handful. The most prominent convention the US has NOT ratified is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Clinton Administration signed the convention, but the Senate never ratified it.

What are Human Rights? An explanation of the rights it considers inalienable for all persons.
Status of US ratification of UN human rights instruments. (PDF)
The US has only formally signed and ratified a handful of the UN human rights conventions. This sheet contains a full list of instruments that have been signed and ratified and those the US to which the US is not a party. Explore all the
Human Rights Topics. A detailed listing and description of the many aspects of human rights from adequate housing to traditional values and human rights.
Human Rights Organizations
- UN Human Rights Council (HRC) -- the HRC, established by the UN Charter, is the primary agency within the UN charged with protecting and promoting human rights around the globe. The General Assembly elects its 47 members.
  
  The Council has always been a controversial organization in part because some elected members have dubious human rights records. For the United States, those nations and the Council's criticism of Israel's human rights record vis-a-vis the Palestinian people prompted the Trump Administration to withdraw its support for the Council in June 2018 . In 2021 the US rejoined and was elected to the Council in October.
- Human Rights Instruments and Mechanisms
  There are 10 additional human rights organizations established by UN treaties and conventions. Explore those bodies at this website.
Research Guides -- Do you want to explore in more depth? \Tthe UN libraries in New York and Geneva have excellent research guides for Human Rights.
- UN Library Geneva list of guides on Human Rights
- NY Dag Hammarskjold guide to Human Rights Documentation