Legal Frameworks

Universal system for the protection of human rights

Children

• Convention on the Rights of the Child Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989 
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict 
• Optional protocol to the convention on the rights of the child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography 

Human rights defenders

• Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 

Indigenous peoples and minorities

• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 
• C169 Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 

Migrant workers

• International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families 

People with disabilities

• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

Refugees

• Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees 
• Convention relating to the Status of Refugees 

Womens

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 
• Convention on the Political Rights of Women 
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 
• Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women 

Regional systems for the protection of human rights

African system

• OAU convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa 
• African charter on the rights and welfare of the child 
• Protocol to the african charter on human and peoples’ rights on the rights of women in africa 

Interamerican system

• Inter-american convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities
• Inter-american convention on international traffic in minors 
• Inter-american convention on the prevention, punishment and eradication of violence against women 
• Inter-american convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities 
• Inter-american convention on international traffic in minors 

International jurisprudence

• Case concerning certain criminal proceedings in France (Republic of the Congo v. France)  
• Yerodia Ndombasi case 
• Ely Ould Dah case: Ely Ould Dah v. France, European Court of Human Rights, judgment of 17 March 2009 

Origins

• Principles of International Law Recognized in the Charter of the Nüremberg Tribunal and in the Judgment of the Tribunal 
• Martens Clause (The Hague Conventions 1899 and 1907) 
• Geneva Conventions, 12 August 1949 Convention (I) for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field 
• Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 9 December 1948 
• Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity 

Sources

• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 
• Customary international humanitarian law 2005 

• Charter of the United Nations 

• Regulation of the court ICC 
• Rules of Procedure and Evidence 
• Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court 
• Principles of International Law Recognized in the Charter of the Nüremberg Tribunal and in the Judgment of the Tribunal 
• Affirmation of the Principles of International Law recognised by the Charter of the Nüremberg Tribunal 
• Elements of crimes ICC 
• Agreement for the Prosecution and Punishment of the Major War Criminals of the European Axis, and Charter of the International Military Tribunal 
• Statute International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia 
• Statute International Tribunal for Rwanda 

International criminal law standards

• Statute of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 
• Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens 
• Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court 

Regional systems for the protection of human rights

African system

• Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Africa 
• Principles and guidelines on the right to a fair trial and legal assistance in Africa 
• African charter on human and peoples’ rights 
• Resolution on the Right to Fair Trial and Legal Aid in Africa 
• Resolution on guidelines and measures for the prohibition and prevention of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in Africa 

European system

• Convention for the Protection of Human Rightsand Fundamental Freedoms, as amended by Protocols No. 11 and 14 
• Protocol no. 7 to the convention for the protection of human rightsand fundamental freedoms, as amended by protocol no. 11 

Interamerican system

• American declaration of the rights and duties of man 
• American convention on human rights “pact of San Jose, Costa Rica” 

Universal system for the protection of human rights

Instrument of a general nature

• Universal declaration of human rights 
• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 

Instrument of a specific nature

• Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors 
• Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary 
• Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power 
• Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials 
• United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (“The Beijing Rules”) 
• Safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty 
• Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment 
• Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War 
• Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949., Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Geneva, 12 August 1949. 
• Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors 

• Principles of international co-operation in the detection, arrest, extradition and punishment of persons guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity 
• Geneva conventions 
• Protocol additional to the geneva conventions of 12 august 1949, and relating to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts 
• Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide 
• Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity 

• Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials 
• Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions 
• Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors 
• Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary 
• United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (“The Beijing Rules”) 
• Safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty 
• Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 
• Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners 
• Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners 
• Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment 
• United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty 
• Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors 

Regional instruments

• United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (The Tokyo Rules)

General

African

• Protocol to the african charter on human and peoples’ rights on the establishmentof an african court on human and peoples’ rights 
• African charter on human and peoples’ rights 

American

• American declaration of the rights and duties of man 

Europeans

• Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as amended by Protocols No. 11 and 14 
• Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union 

Specialised

American

• Protocol to the american convention on human rights to abolish the death penalty 
• Convención interamericana sobre desaparición forzada de personas 
• Inter-american convention on forced disappearance of persons 
• Inter-american convention to prevent and punish torture 

Europeans

• European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 

Universal instruments

General

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 
• Universal declaration of human rights 
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 
• Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 

Specialised

• Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty 
• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 
• Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 
• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 
• International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance