| |
|
Relevant
information on the United Nations for RIMM members
|
Calendar
of events for 2009 at the UN (Conventions and Optional Protocols)
This page of the website
gives information on the United Nations declarations, conventions
and covenants that RIMM and its members would like to engage
in. They are divided under the below themes; please click
on heads for more information:
|
|
|
-
Declaration
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women:
On 7 November 1967 the United
Nations General Assembly proclaimed
the Declaration on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women to promote
equal rights for men and women. The
11 articles of the Declaration urge
member nations to address of issues
of discrimination against women and
ensure that rights of women are safeguarded...more
(pdf file)
-
Declaration
on the Elimination of Violence against
Women:
Concerned that the violence
against women was an impediment to the
achievement of equality, development
and peace the General Assembly proclaimed
the Declaration on the Elimination of
Violence against Women on 20 December
1967. In its 6 articles the Declaration
urges that efforts be made to prevent
physical, sexual and psychological violence
against women, provide access to justice
for women affected by violence and develop
a comprehensive plan for protection
of women...more
(pdf file)
-
International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination against Women:
1999 CEDAW Optional Protocol - The Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women adopted on 18 December 1979
by the United Nations General Assembly
is often described as an international
bill of rights for women. Consisting of
a preamble and 30 articles, it defines
discrimination against women and sets
up an agenda for national action to end
such discrimination. The Convention defines
discrimination against women as "...any
distinction, exclusion or restriction
made on the basis of sex which has the
effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying
the recognition, enjoyment or exercise
by women, irrespective of their marital
status, on a basis of equality of men
and women, of human rights and fundamental
freedoms in the political, economic, social,
cultural, civil or any other field."
By accepting the Convention, States commit
themselves to undertake a series of measures
to end discrimination against women in
all forms, including:
-
to incorporate the principle of equality
of men and women in their legal system,
abolish all discriminatory laws and
adopt appropriate ones prohibiting
discrimination against women;
-
to establish tribunals and other public
institutions to ensure the effective
protection of women against discrimination;
and
-
to ensure elimination of all acts
of discrimination against women by
persons, organizations or enterprises.
Compliance
is monitored by the United Nations Committee
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women ... Convention
and OP1
(pdf file)
For complete
information on the Convention see http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/index.htm
|
|
-
Declaration
of the Rights of the Child:
Recognising that children by nature
of their physical and mental immaturity
need special safeguards and care the
General Assembly adopted the Declaration
of the Rights of the Child on 20 November
1959. The Declaration consists of 10
principles relating to child protection,
education and discrimination...more
(pdf file)
-
Convention
on the Rights of Child:
2000 Optional Protocol on Rights of Child
on the Involvement in Children in Armed
Conflict; 2000 Optional Protocol on Rights
of Child on the sale of Child, Child Prostitution
and Child Pornography - The Convention
on the Rights of Child adopted on 20 November
1989 by the United Nations General Assembly
is lays down the civil, political, economic,
social and cultural rights of and the
responsibility of the state and their
guardians for protection of a child. It
consists of a preamble and 54 articles;
enshrined in these articles are four primary
principles that help interpret the Convention
thereby guiding the national programmes
of implementation.
The four principles are:
(1)Non-discrimination [article 2], (2)
Best interests of the child [article 3],
(3) Right to life, survival and development
[article 6] and (4) Views of the child
[article 12]. Compliance is monitored
by the United Nations Committee on the
Rights of the Child.
(pdf file of Convention,
OP1
and OP2)
For complete
information on the Convention see http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/index.htm
|
| |
-
Declaration
on the Rights of Persons Belonging to
National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic
Minorities:
The Declaration on the
Rights of Persons Belonging to National
or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic
Minorities was proclaimed by the General
Assembly on 18 December 1992. In its
9 articles the Declaration calls for
member states to protect the minorities
by adopting appropriate legislation,
recognise their right to enjoy their
own culture, religion and language,
and take measures to enable them to
participate in the economic progress
of the country...more
(pdf file)
-
Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:
The Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted
by the United Nations General Assembly
on 13 September 2007. The Declaration
in its 46 articles reaffirms that indigenous
peoples are equal to all other peoples,
urges for the protection of their traditional
rights and structures be it political,
cultural, social or economic, recognises
their right over land and the need for
free, prior and informed consent prior
to relocation, and calls for member
states to ensure that all forms of assistance
are provided to the indigenous peoples...more
(pdf file)
|
| |
-
Universal Declaration
on Human Rights:
The Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, proclaimed by the General
Assembly on 10 December 1948, is the
foundation of international human rights
law, the first universal statement on
the basic principles of inalienable
human rights, and a common standard
of achievement for all peoples and all
nations. The Declaration and its core
values, including non-discrimination,
equality, fairness and universality,
apply to everyone, everywhere and always.
The Declaration represents a contract
between governments and their peoples,
who have a right to demand that this
document be respected. Not all governments
have become parties to all human rights
treaties. All countries, however,
have accepted the Declaration. The Declaration
is universal in its content and application
and serves as the driving force behind
many human rights-based legislations.
It is a point of reference for human
rights organisations and many NGOs refer
to the Declaration to hold governments
accountable for their policies and actions.
The Declaration consists of a preamble
and 30 articles...more
(pdf file)
-
Convention
against Discrimination in Education:
The Convention against Discrimination
in Education was adopted by the General
Assembly of United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
on 14 December 1960 proclaims the right
of every individual to education. It consists
of 19 articles. Considering that, under
the terms of its Constitution, the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization has the purpose of instituting
collaboration among the nations with a
view to furthering for all universal respect
for human rights and equality of educational
opportunity. UNESCO, consequently recognizes
that, while respecting the diversity of
national educational systems, it has the
duty not only to proscribe any form of
discrimination in education but also to
promote equality of opportunity and treatment
for all in education...more
(pdf file)
-
Declaration
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination:
Alarmed at the
still existing racial discrimination,
the United Nations General Assembly
proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination
of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
on 20 November 1963. The 11 articles
of the Declaration reaffirm the United
Nations commitment to working towards
a society free from prejudice on the
grounds of race, colour or ethnic origin...more
(pdf file)
-
International
Convention on the Elimination of all Forms
of Racial Discrimination:
Adopted by the United Nations General
Assembly on 21 December 1965, the International
Convention on the Elimination of all Forms
of Racial Discrimination in its 25 articles
reaffirms the commitment of the member
states to eliminating racial discrimination
in all its forms, and to prevent and combat
racist doctrines and practices in order
to promote understanding between races
and to build an international community
free from all forms of racial segregation
and racial discrimination. The Convention
is monitored by the Committee on the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination.….more
(pdf file)
For
complete information on the Convention
see http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/index.htm
-
International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
Optional Protocol International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights; 1966
Second Optional Protocol on Abolition
of Death Penalty:
The International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights is a United
Nations treaty was created in 1966 and
entered into force on 23 March 1976.
The International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights is monitored by
the Human Rights Committee. Under the
covenant the five categories and two
optional protocols that include the
below:
-
Protection
on individual's physical integrity
(against things such as execution,
torture, and arbitrary arrest).
-
Procedural fairness in law (rule of
law, rights upon arrest, trial, basic
conditions must be met when imprisoned,
rights to a lawyer, impartial process
in trial).
-
Protection based on gender, religious,
racial or other forms of discrimination.
-
Individual freedom of belief, speech,
association, freedom of press, right
to hold assembly.
-
Right to political participation (organise
a political party, vote, voice contempt
for current political authority)
Two optional protocols
- Mechanism by which individuals
can launch complaints against member states.
- Abolition of the death
penalty.
For complete
information on the Convention see http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htm
(Text of Covenant
and Optional Protocols
one
and two
in pdf)
-
Declaration
on the Protection of All Persons from
Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment:
Adopted by the United Nations
General Assembly on 9 December 1975 the
Declaration on the Protection of All Persons
from Being Subjected to Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment consists of 11 articles.
It calls upon the member states to take
effective measures to prevent torture
and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment from being practised
in their jurisdiction...more
(pdf file)
-
Declaration
on Race and Racial Prejudice: The
General Conference of United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization on
27 November 1978 adopted and proclaimed
the Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice.
In its 10 articles the Declaration reaffirms
that all people are born equal in dignity
and rights and lays down that states
have the primary responsibility of ensuring
human rights and fundamental freedoms’
on an equal footing to all individuals
and groups...more
(pdf file)
-
Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;
2002 Optional Protocol to the Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment:
The Convention against Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment was adopted by the United
nAtions General Assembly on 10 December
1984. In its 33 articles the Convention
aims to strengthen and make more effective
the struggle against torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment throughout the world. The
Committee against Torture is a body of
human rights experts that monitors implementation
of the Convention by state parties.
(pdf file of Convention
and OP)
For complete
information on the Convention see http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/index.htm
-
Human
Rights Vienna Declaration and Programme
of Action:The
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
was adopted by the World Conference on
Human Rights on 25 June 1993. The Declaration
reaffirmed the commitment of states to
fulfil their obligations to promote universal
respect for and observance of human rights
and fundamental freedoms. It calls for
an increased coordination of the human
rights within the UN system to work on
issues relating to racial prejudice, women’s,
children, indigenous peoples rights, rights
of ethnic religious and linguistic minorities,
rights of migrant workers, disabled people
and for education, monitoring and implementation
of the rights...more
(pdf file)
|
| |
|
| |
-
Declaration
of Commitment on HIV/AIDS:
In the United Nations General Assembly
session heads and representatives of
member states, as a matter of urgency,
came together to review and address
the problem of HIV/AIDS in all its aspects
and secure a global commitment to enhancing
regional, national and international
efforts to combat the problem in a comprehensive
manner. The Declaration stressed the
need for a strong leadership, prevention
as the mainstay, providing care, support
and treatment and the realisation of
rights to reduce vulnerability especially
of women and children to HIV/AIDS...more
(pdf file)
-
Political
Declaration on HIV/AIDS:
On 2 June 2006 the United
Nations General Assembly adopted the
Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS where
the member states noted with alarm the
unprecedented spread of the HIV/AIDS
virus that constituted a global emergency
and posed a formidable challenge to
development, progress and stability
of societies across the world. The
members states committed to intensifying
their efforts to fight the problem of
HIV/AIDS...more
(pdf
file)
|
|
|
| |
Note:
The information on these pages is collated from the various
website of the UN system. Information
for this site is still being collated and will be updated
as and when the same is ready.
 This
page is under construction and will be updated on an ongoing
basis
|
|
