Commission on Human Rights : Body

Commission on Human Rights : Body formed by the Economic and Social Council of the UN to deal with questions of Human Rights. (Also see
UN Human Rights Bodies)
Committee on Human Rights : Created under article 28 of Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to promote and encourage the development
of human rights and fundamental freedom. (Also see UN Human Rights Bodies)
Council of Europe : Regional organization comprised of 34 European countries that subscribe to the rule of law and human rights, submitting to
the binding jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). (Also see European Convention on Human Rights)
Criminal Law : A phrase that often includes the entirety of what we know as the administration of criminal justice, can encompass several legal
fields: substantive criminal law, criminal procedure, law enforcement, and penology.
European Convention on Human Rights : The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, normally referred
to more simply as the European Convention on Human Rights was drafted by the Council of Europe and adopted in 1950. Acceptance of the
convention, of the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights in interpreting it, and of the right of individuals to petition the European
Court of Human Rights for protection are now obligations of membership in the Council. Almost all Member States have incorporated the
convention into their domestic law, so their own courts can apply it where an individual claims a breach of one of the rights it contains. A citizen
can petition the European Court of Human Rights itself only after all remedies available in his/her home country have failed to satisfy him/her. In a
state where the convention has not been incorporated he/she may not be able to get final judgement of the case against his/her government until
years after the act.
Human Rights : Human rights are the rights and freedoms of all human beings. They are fundamental and universal. Human rights consist of civil
and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights.
Inter-American Court of Human Rights : Court established in accordance with the American Convention on Human Rights. It is an
autonomous judicial institution whose purpose is the application and interpretation of the convention. Only the state parties and the Inter-
American Commission on Human Rights have the right to submit a case to the court.
International law : The system of law regulating the interrelationship of sovereign states and their rights and duties vis-à-vis one another.
International law also covers private international law, or the conflict of laws. In this broader sense, international law is concerned with the rights
of persons within the territory and dominion of one nation, by reason of acts private or public, done within the dominion of another nation.
NGO: Non-governmental organization.
Repeal of Law : A legislative act abrogating an earlier act.
Right : An interest or expectation guaranteed by law.
State Party : A state that has signed and ratified a human rights treaty. State parties are committed to incorporate the rights in the treaty into their
own national and municipal law. They are also obliged to comply with all provisions of the human rights treaty.
Treaty, convention, pact, act, declaration, protocol : Contracts between states are called by these various names, none of which has a
single fixed meaning. A treaty is the most formal type of agreement as it is not just a declaration of intent, it creates obligations on Member States
and it is governed by international law.
Treaty law : An international term for law on international agreements between states, between states and international organizations or between
two or more international organizations. The two prime United Nations (UN) Human Rights Treaties are the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights (ICPR) and Covenant on Economic and Social Rights (ESCR). Other universal treaties (including charters, conventions, covenants
and statutes), regional treaties and protocols to treaties comprise the principal body of International Human Rights treaty law. The 1969 Vienna
Convention on the law of treaties is the central source of international law on treaties.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: In 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
“as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and nations”. Although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not legally binding, over
the years its main principles have acquired the status of standards which should be respected by all states.
UN : United Nations. The United Nations is an international organization, central to global efforts to solve problems that challenge humanity. More
than 30 affiliated organizations, co-operating together constitute the UN system. UN and its family of organizations work to promote respect for
human rights, protect the environment, fight disease, foster development and reduce poverty. UN agencies define the standards for safe and
efficient transport by air and sea, help improve telecommunications and enhance consumer protection, work to ensure respect for intellectual
property rights and co-ordinate allocation of radio frequencies. The United Nations leads the international campaigns against drug trafficking and
terrorism. Throughout the world, the UN and its agencies assist refugees and set up programmes to clear landmines, help improve the quality of
drinking water and expand food production, make loans to developing countries and help stabilise financial markets.