Human Rights

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HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES

Universality and Inalienability: Human rights are universal and inalienable. All people everywhere in the world are entitled to them. The universality of human rights is encompassed in the words of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

Indivisibility: Human rights are indivisible. Whether they relate to civil, cultural, economic, political or social issues, human rights are inherent to the dignity of every human person. Consequently, all human rights have equal status, and cannot be positioned in a hierarchical order. Denial of one right invariably impedes enjoyment of other rights. Thus, the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living cannot be compromised at the expense of other rights, such as the right to health or the right to education.

Human Rights Principle

Interdependence and Interrelatedness: Human rights are interdependent and interrelated. Each one contributes to the realization of a person’s human dignity through the satisfaction of his or her developmental, physical, psychological and spiritual needs. The fulfilment of one right often depends, wholly or in part, upon the fulfilment of others. For instance, fulfilment of the right to health may depend, in certain circumstances, on fulfilment of the right to development, to education or to information.

Equality and Non-discrimination: All individuals are equal as human beings and by virtue of the inherent dignity of each human person. No one, therefore, should suffer discrimination on the basis of race, colour, ethnicity, gender, age, language, sexual orientation, religion, political or other opinion, national, social or geographical origin, disability, property, birth or other status as established by human rights standards.

Participation and Inclusion: All people have the right to participate in and access information relating to the decision-making processes that affect their lives and well-being. Rights-based approaches require a high degree of participation by communities, civil society, minorities, women, young people, indigenous peoples and other identified groups.

Accountability and Rule of Law: States and other duty-bearers are answerable for the observance of human rights. In this regard, they have to comply with the legal norms and standards enshrined in international human rights instruments. Where they fail to do so, aggrieved rights-holders are entitled to institute proceedings for appropriate redress before a competent court or other adjudicator in accordance with the rules and procedures provided by law. Individuals, the media, civil society and the international community play important roles in holding governments accountable for their obligation to uphold human rights.

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Main Human Rights Treaties and Pakistan  (RightsNOW Pakistan)
Treaty or Convention	Signed	Ratified	Reporting	Treaty Status
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.	11 Dec 1948	12 Oct 1957		Paris, 9 December 1948   Signatories 41, Parties 141
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).	19 Sep 1966	09/21/66		New York, 7 March 1977   Signatories : 85. Parties : 174
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).	3 Nov 2004	04/17/08		Signatories : 69. Parties : 160
.a Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights				Signatories : 35. Parties : 3 (Eacuador, Mongolia and Spain).
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)	17 Apr 2008	06/23/10		New York, 16 December 1966   Signatories : 72. Parties : 167
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights	NO	NO		New York, 16 December 1966   Signatories : 35. Parties : 113
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)		12 Mar 1996 a		New York, 18 December 1979   Signatories : 98. Parties : 186
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.	17 Apr 2008	06/23/10		Signatories : 77. Parties : 147  Newyork , 10 December 1984
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)	20 Sep 1990	11/12/90		New York, 20 November 1989  Signatories : 140. Parties : 193
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance	NO	NO		New York, 20 December 2006  Signatories : 88. Parties : 23