Human Rights |
The Human Rights Reading Room :: Documents and Materials |
1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, G.A. res. 217A (III), U.N. Doc A/810 at 71 Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world; Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people; Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law… Read more about the Declaration here … |
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1986 African [Banjul] Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, adopted June 27, 1981, OAU Doc. CAB/LEG/67/3 rev. 5, 21 I.L.M. 58 (1982), entered into force Oct. 21, 1986: [excerpts] . .All peoples shall freely dispose of their wealth and natural resources. This right shall be exercised in the exclusive interest of the people. In no case shall a people be deprived of it… dispossessed people shall have the right to the lawful recovery of its property [and] adequate compensation. The free disposal of wealth and natural resources shall be exercised without prejudice…based on mutual respect, equitable exchange and the principles of international law….the right to free disposal of their [nation’s] wealth and natural resources ….eliminate[ing] all forms of foreign economic exploitation---particularly that practiced by international monopolies---so as to enable their peoples to fully benefit from the advantages derived from their national resources. |
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2004 League of Arab States, Arab Charter on Human Rights, May 22, 2004, reprinted in 12 Int'l Hum. Rts. Rep. 893 (2005), entered into force March 15, 2008.Being proud of the humanitarian values and principles that the Arab nation has established throughout its long history, which have played a major role in spreading knowledge between East and West, so making the region a point of reference for the whole world and a destination for seekers of knowledge and wisdom.. To entrench the principle that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. All peoples have the right of self-determination and to control over their natural wealth and resources, and the right to freely choose their political system and to freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. |
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1951 Convention (Treaty) on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 78 U.N.T.S. 277, entered into force Jan. 12, 1951. The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish. In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: Killing members of the group; Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. The following acts shall be punishable: Genocide; Conspiracy to commit genocide; Direct and public incitement to commit genocide; Attempt to commit genocide; Complicity in genocide. |
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1990 African Charter for Popular Participation in Development and Transformation was adopted at the International Conference on Popular Participation in the Recovery and Development Process in Africa, held in Arusha, Tanzania. We are united in our conviction that the crisis currently engulfing Africa, is not only an economic crisis but also a human, legal, political and social crisis. It is a crisis of unprecedented and unacceptable proportions manifested not only in abysmal declines in economic indicators and trends, but more tragically and glaringly in the suffering, hardship and impoverishment of the vast majority of African people. |
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International Center for Religion & Diplomacy (DC) The most serious threat confronting the world today is the potential marriage of religious extremism with weapons of mass destruction. Billions of dollars have been spent to address the symptoms of this problem, with little targeted at underlying cause. Religion must be part of the solution. Central to the Center's approach is its ability to capitalize on the positive role that religious leaders and institutions can play in building trust and overcoming differences. By linking religious reconciliation with official or unofficial diplomacy, ICRD has created a new synergy for peacemaking. |
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2002 Rome Statute on the International Criminal U.N. Doc. 2187 U.N.T.S. 90, entered into force July 1, 2002. Conscious that all peoples are united by common bonds, their cultures pieced together in a shared heritage, and concerned that this delicate mosaic may be shattered at any time, Mindful that during this century millions of children, women and men have been victims of unimaginable atrocities that deeply shock the conscience of humanity, Recognizing that such grave crimes threaten the peace, security and well-being of the world, Affirming that the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole must not go unpunished,…Determined to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes and thus to contribute to the prevention of such crimes, Recalling that it is the duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for international crimes… Read the full document here... |
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The Human Rights Library University of Minnesota The Library houses more than sixty thousand core human rights documents, including several hundred human rights treaties and other primary international human rights instruments. The site also provides access to more than four thousands links and a unique search device for multiple human rights sites. This comprehensive research tool is accessed by more than a 250,000 students, scholars, educators, and human rights advocates monthly from over 150 countries around the world. Documents are available in nine languages - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. |
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Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cooperation with the International Bar Association; Human Rights in the Administration of Justice: A Manual on Human Rights for Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers |
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2009 Human Rights Watch Worldwide Report– HRW’s 19th annual World Report summarizes human rights conditions in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide. It reflects extensive investigative work undertaken in 2008 by Human Rights Watch staff, usually in close partnership with human rights activists in the country in question. United States report is also included. |
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2009 Association for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). A multinational international initiative with participation of representatives from governments and their agencies; oil, gas, and mining companies, asset management companies and pension funds; local civil society groups, and international non-governmental organizations. Publishes standards for international companies to publish what they pay and for governments to disclose what they receive. Search EITI website for list of countries and companies participating. |
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July 2009 Assembly of the African Union 13th Ordinary Session – Decisions and Declarations |
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Wikipedia Summary: African Human Rights Charters of Peoples’ Rights in Development |
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