WILPF, Human Rights Instruments, and the UN

2007 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Read more here

The International Bill of Human Rights is a collection of legal documents and declarations which make up international human rights law: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenants, and the two Optional Protocols.

As International human rights law is governed by these legal texts, public knowledge of them is an important element to grassroots human rights movements.

UN bodies that monitor human rights law are divided into 2 categories: treaty-bodies and charter bodies. Charter bodies, such as the Human Rights Council, are based on the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration, and apply to all UN member states. Treaty-bodies are governed by the human rights treaties, legally binding instruments that states sign and ratify at their own volition. States who have ratified a treaty are then responsible for incorporating them into their national legislation. Their implentation is reviewed by their respective Committees. Read more here.

WILPF's International Secretariat is primarily involved with the Human Rights Council, through monitoring, delivering statements, and organizing side events in conjunction with other NGOs.

• General Information on the Human Rights Council: NGO Handbook on the Human Rights Council (HRC)
• Current HRC Members States
• HRC Elections took place on May 17, 2007
• Seven Human Rights Treaty Bodies: The other WILPF tools for Human Rights Protection
• Special Procedures of the HRC (New!)
  
• Country Information (Human Rights around the World: OHCHR)
• UN News Centre