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International Commission on Human Rights
Human rights instruments—including treaties, conventions, declarations, and protocols—form the legal foundation for protecting and promoting human rights worldwide. These instruments establish standards, define rights, and create obligations for states and other actors.
Human rights mechanisms are the systems, bodies, and procedures established to monitor, promote, and enforce these instruments. They include treaty bodies that review state compliance, special procedures that investigate specific issues, complaint mechanisms that allow individuals to seek redress, and universal periodic reviews that assess all countries.
ICOHR works to promote understanding and effective use of these instruments and mechanisms. We help governments implement their obligations, assist civil society in engaging with these systems, and support individuals in claiming their rights through available mechanisms.
The foundational legal instruments that define and protect human rights at the international level.
The foundational document that established universal human rights standards. While not legally binding itself, it has inspired numerous binding treaties and is recognized as a cornerstone of international human rights law.
Protects rights such as freedom of speech, assembly, religion, fair trial, and protection from torture. States that ratify this covenant commit to respecting and ensuring these rights.
Protects rights to work, education, health, housing, and an adequate standard of living. Requires states to progressively realize these rights using maximum available resources.
Comprehensive treaty addressing discrimination against women in all areas of life. Requires states to eliminate discrimination and ensure women's equality in political, economic, social, and cultural spheres.
The most widely ratified human rights treaty, protecting children's rights to survival, development, protection, and participation. Establishes the principle that the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration.
Promotes, protects, and ensures the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities. Emphasizes accessibility, inclusion, and participation in society.
Other important instruments that protect specific groups or address particular forms of discrimination and rights violations.
Prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Establishes mechanisms for monitoring compliance and preventing torture.
Eliminates racial discrimination in all forms and promotes understanding among all races. First major human rights treaty to be adopted.
Prevents and punishes enforced disappearances. Establishes victims' right to know the truth about the fate of disappeared persons.
Protects the rights of migrant workers and their families, ensuring equality of treatment and protection against exploitation.
Prevents and punishes the crime of genocide. Recognized as binding on all states as part of customary international law.
Additional treaties that extend or strengthen main conventions, including individual complaint procedures and protections for specific groups.
The systems and bodies that monitor, promote, and enforce human rights instruments.
Independent committees of experts that monitor implementation of human rights treaties. They review periodic reports from states, issue recommendations, and in some cases, consider individual complaints.
Independent human rights experts appointed to investigate specific themes or country situations. They conduct country visits, receive complaints, and report on violations and best practices.
A peer review mechanism where all UN member states' human rights records are examined. Provides an opportunity for each state to declare actions taken to improve human rights.
Mechanisms that allow individuals, groups, or states to submit complaints about human rights violations. Different procedures exist for different treaties and situations.
Independent bodies established at the national level to protect and promote human rights. They serve as bridges between international standards and local implementation.
Human rights systems at regional levels (European, Inter-American, African, Arab) that complement global mechanisms and provide regional perspectives on rights protection.
ICOHR supports the effective use of human rights instruments and mechanisms to protect and promote rights worldwide.
ICOHR provides training and education on human rights instruments and mechanisms for government officials, civil society organizations, lawyers, and human rights defenders. We help people understand their rights and how to use available mechanisms.
We assist governments in implementing their obligations under human rights instruments, help draft legislation that aligns with international standards, and support the establishment of effective national human rights institutions.
ICOHR helps civil society organizations engage effectively with human rights mechanisms, including preparing shadow reports for treaty bodies, submitting information to special procedures, and participating in UPR processes.
We provide legal assistance and support to individuals seeking to use complaint procedures and other mechanisms to claim their rights. This includes helping victims navigate complex procedures and access available remedies.
ICOHR monitors state compliance with human rights instruments and submits reports to treaty bodies and special procedures. We document violations, highlight gaps, and provide evidence-based recommendations for improvement.
We advocate for the strengthening of existing mechanisms and the development of new ones where gaps exist. ICOHR also works to ensure that mechanisms remain independent, effective, and accessible to those who need them most.
Human rights instruments provide the legal framework that defines what rights exist and what states must do to protect them. Without these instruments, human rights would be abstract concepts without legal force or accountability.
Mechanisms turn these legal commitments into practical reality. They provide ways to monitor compliance, hold violators accountable, and help victims seek justice. Without effective mechanisms, instruments remain words on paper.
Together, instruments and mechanisms create a comprehensive system for protecting human rights. ICOHR works to ensure this system is strong, accessible, and effective for everyone whose rights are at risk.
Human rights instruments apply to all people, everywhere, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or other status.
States that ratify instruments commit to respecting, protecting, and fulfilling the rights they contain.
Mechanisms provide ways to hold states accountable when they fail to meet their human rights obligations.
Effective mechanisms must be accessible to victims, civil society, and others who need to use them.
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