International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) recognizes that equal and inalienable rights of all human persons derive from their inherent dignity. States parties are obliged to respect and ensure the civil and political rights of all individuals within their territories or subject to their jurisdiction. These rights are the right to self-determination; the right to life; freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the right to not be enslaved; the right to liberty and security of person; the right of detainees to be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person; the right to not be imprisoned merely on the ground of inability to fulfill a contractual obligation; freedom of movement; the right of aliens in regard to expulsion from the territory of a state party; the right to equality before courts and tribunals and the right to a fair trial; the right to not be found guilty of any criminal offense on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a criminal offense at the time when it was committed; the right to recognition as a person before the law; freedom from arbitrary or unlawful interference; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; the right to hold opinions without interference and the right to freedom of expression; the right to be free from any propaganda for war or advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence; the right of peaceful assembly; freedom of association; the right to marry; the rights of children to protection, registration, have a name and acquire a nationality; the right to political participation; the right to equality before the law; and the right of ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities to their own culture, religion and language. These rights should be recognized without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status. The ICCPR requires states parties to adopt such laws or other measures and necessary steps to give effect to these rights. In addition, the states have the obligation to ensure that any person whose rights are violated shall have an effective remedy before competent judicial, administrative or legislative authorities.