Human rights are fundamental rights that apply globally to every individual. These fundamental rights are described as those rights that are inherent in all human beings irrespective of race, sex, nationality, language, ethnicity, religion, economic standing or any other characteristic.
Recognizing the significance of human rights within societies, numerous countries have enshrined these rights in their constitutions. For instance, Nigeria acknowledges the importance of human rights by outlining the fundamental rights applicable to every citizen in Chapter Four of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These rights encompass, but are not limited to the right to life, the right to human dignity, the right to a fair hearing, the right to be free from discrimination, the right to own and acquire property, the right to freely express opinions, the right to associate freely, the right to personal liberty, the right to private and family life, the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
With respect to the international scene, the United Nations which comprises different countries have drafted a pool of treaties that addresses different aspects of human rights.
A treaty is a formally signed and validated agreement between individual states that lays out specific rules on how states will conduct its affairs on a particular issue. There is quite a number of human rights treaties and they encompass of:
1. The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
The Universal Declaration was the first detailed expression of the basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. The Universal Declaration is a document that acts as a global road map for freedom and equality protecting the rights of individuals everywhere. The declaration comprises thirty (30) articles which address different rights and freedoms of humans.
2. The 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
The convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide was adopted by the United Nations in an effort to prevent and criminalize genocide and obligate state parties to pursue the enforcement of its obligation..
3. The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
This convention was adopted to protect the rights of people forced to flee their home country for fear of persecution on special grounds. Each contracting state is obligated to accord to refugees lawfully in its territory the right to choose their place of residence and to move freely within its territory.
4. The 1960 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
This convention prohibits discrimination at work on grounds of race, sex, religion, political opinion and social origin.
5. The 1966 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Convention (ICERD)
This Convention obliges states to take steps to prohibit racial discrimination and promote understanding among all races.
6. The 1966 International Convention on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights Convention (ICESCR)
The Convention protects rights like the right to an adequate standard of living, education, work, healthcare, and social security. The ICESCR and the ICCPR (below) build on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by creating binding obligations for state parties.
7. 1966 International Covenant on Civil & Political Right (ICCPR)
The human rights protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights include the right to vote, the right to freedom of association, the right to a fair trial, right to privacy, and the right to freedom of religion. ICCPR comprises two protocols that can only be used when all domestic channels have been exhausted. The first optional protocol allows people to complain directly to the human rights committee if they believe their rights have been violated while the second optional protocol deals with the abolition of the death penalty.
8. 1979 Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
This convention obliges states to take steps to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and to ensure that women enjoy human rights to the same degree as men in a range of areas including family life, education, employment, and healthcare. This convention is an international legal instrument that requires constries to promote the women’s and girl’s equal rights. The CEDAW convention is built on three foundational principles which include non discrimination, state obligation and substantive equality.
9. The 1984 Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The Convention against torture requires member states to take effective measures to prevent torture in any territory under their jurisdiction and forbids member states to transport a person to another country where he or she would be in danger of being subjected to torture. Also, the optional protocol to this convention established a system of regular visits and inspection of places of detention.
10. The 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
This Convention on Children Rights states that children are entitled to the same rights as all other people. It also creates special rights for children, recognising their particular vulnerability, such as the right to express their views freely, and that decisions affecting children must consider the best interests of the child. State parties also recognize the rights of children to be protected from economic exploitation. There are two Optional Protocols, one on child prostitution and pornography and another on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
11. The 1989 International Labour Organisation’s Indigenous and Tribal People’s Convention
This Convention aims to protect the rights of Indigenous and tribal peoples around the world. It is based on respect for the right of Indigenous peoples to maintain their own identities and to decide their own path for development in all areas including land rights, customary law, health and employment.
12. The 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families
The Convention on Migrant Workers aims to ensure that migrant workers enjoy full protection of their human rights, regardless of their legal status.
13. The 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted with an objective to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disability. It includes the right to health, education, employment, accessibility, and non-discrimination. The Optional Protocol to this Convention establishes an individual complaints mechanism.
14. The 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
This Declaration establishes minimum standards for the enjoyment of individual and collective rights by Indigenous peoples. These include the right to effectively participate in decision-making on matters which affect them, and the right to pursue their own priorities for economic, social and cultural development.
