United Nations human rights treaties are important foundational documents that establish countries’ responsibilities to uphold fundamental human rights. Among the most widely ratified international treaties guaranteeing basic human rights are:
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
- The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
- The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
- The International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
- The 1951 Refugee Convention
Countries who ratify these treaties are required to report periodically to a committee of experts, and work in concert with committee members to recognize progress and identify areas where gaps remain. As part of this review process, civil society organizations (CSOs) are welcomed to submit reports to treaty body committees highlighting areas where countries are meeting or exceeding their treaty commitments, and bringing attention to persisting gaps.
WORLD’s Work on Treaty Body Reporting
In the goal of supporting treaty body committees’ and countries’ invaluable work, WORLD regularly submits reports where our data on constitutional and legal rights can assist committees and countries in their mutual commitment to realizing human rights. We invite you to consult our past submissions to the following United Nations human rights treaties:
