International human rights law

International human rights law (IHRL) is a set of international laws that protect the human rights of individuals and groups. It is primarily made up of treaties and customary international law, but also includes other sources such as general principles of law, and, in certain circumstances, domestic law.

Origins and Development

The origins of international human rights law can be traced back to the aftermath of World War II, with the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The UDHR, while not legally binding, has had a profound influence on the development of international human rights law.

Following the UDHR, a number of international human rights treaties were adopted, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). These treaties, along with the UDHR, form the International Bill of Human Rights.

Principles

International human rights law operates on the principle that all individuals are entitled to the same basic rights, regardless of nationality, race, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. These rights include, but are not limited to, the right to life, the right to freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment, the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the right to a fair trial.

Enforcement

Enforcement of international human rights law can be challenging, as there is no global judicial body with the authority to enforce these laws. However, there are a number of mechanisms in place to monitor compliance with human rights standards, including United Nations treaty bodies, regional human rights bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and domestic courts.

Criticisms and Challenges

Despite its achievements, international human rights law faces a number of criticisms and challenges. These include the argument that it is a form of cultural imperialism, imposing Western values on non-Western cultures, and the challenge of enforcing these laws in countries that do not recognize or respect them.

See Also

• Human rights
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights