The UIA calls upon its members to mobilise for the ratification of and compliance with the fundamental human rights treaties

2016 will mark the 50^th anniversary of the adoption of the two fundamental human rights treaties: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

These two treaties, which complete and strengthen the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are presently considered to be both the bedrock of international human rights law and the minimum conditions for the rights and liberties to which each person is entitled.

However, we note with great concern that not a single day goes by without attacks, particularly by States, on the right to life and physical integrity, the right to freedom and security of the person, the right to a fair trial, the right to privacy and the freedom of expression. Numerous countries fail to meet their obligation of ensuring, according to their possibilities, the right to work, the right to health, the right to education or even cultural rights. Enormous efforts still must be made to ensure that women and men are considered equal in terms of rights.

Our societies increasingly face a host of new situations today, especially environmental and security-related, which pose extraordinary risks and challenges to ensuring respect for rights across the world.

As recently noted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR), Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the two fundamental human rights treaties adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966 are as important and relevant today as they were half a century ago ¹.

The UIA wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the protection of human rights and the defence of their universal nature today, by joining the appeal issued by the HCHR for the ratification of and compliance with the fundamental human rights treaties.

The UIA begins its year-long mobilisation campaign today.

The UIA will send letters to authorities in all those countries that have not yet ratified the ICCPR and ICESCR, requesting ratification as soon as possible.

It encourages all its member bars and professional associations to do the same.

It is essential for us to fully assume the role incumbent upon lawyers, to protect fundamental freedoms and human rights, whether economic, social, cultural, civil or political.

The UIA calls to action, in particular, its collective members whose countries have not yet ratified these International Covenants and/or their Optional Protocols ^{2 3}.  The UIA shall stand by them and support measures taken by them in this regard. The UIA is certain that mobilisation and related actions will enhance compliance with international human rights standards in in each of their countries.

Finally, the UIA invites all its members to join a new campaign -- “Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always” -- to be initiated by the HDHR on December 16, 2015, which is aimed at promoting and creating awareness about the International Covenants.

 

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¹ ttp://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16856&LangID=E

² Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Second Optional protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aimed at the abolition of the death penalty; Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights .

³ To consult the list of countries that have not yet ratified the International Covenants and/or their Optional Protocols, please click here