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Universal Human Rights
This is a brief account of the prominent international treaties pertaining to human rights*. The principle affirmation of global human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was ratified by the United Nations in 1948, 3 years after Germany's unconditional surrender.
Article Contents
International human rights law is primarily the domain of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. International agreements on human rights are first outlined by the General Council and then enter into force after being ratified by a sufficient number of member states. Even if a member state chooses not to ratify a particular item, some conventions, declarations, agreements or treaties may contain certain universally binding clauses, which all states are equally subject to regardless of ratification. For instance, the prohibition of torture applies to any state, regardless of whether it was party to the original Convention against Torture. As the US has demonstrated, enforcing international law is rather difficult when the member states with the most powerful military forces consider themselves exempt from the rule of law.
Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Note the subtle distinction in the terminology: human rights law refers to international agreements that apply during peacetime and wartime, whereas humanitarian law refers to the rights of persons in the context of armed conflict. Whereas certain predetermined articles of human rights law may be suspended in the event of an emergency, humanitarian law cannot, as it was written specifically for application during an emergency (i.e. conflict).
Human Rights Law
I have listed the agreements below in the order in which they entered into force, as opposed to the order in which they were adopted and opened for signature by the General Assembly.
- 10 December 1948 -- Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- 12 January 1951 -- Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
- 4 January 1969 -- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
- 3 January 1976 -- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights†
- 23 March 1976 -- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- 23 March 1976 -- Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights‡
- 15 December 1989 -- Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty‡
- 3 September 1981 -- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women†
- 22 December 2000 -- Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women‡
- 26 June 1987 -- Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
- 22 June 2006 -- Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment‡
- 2 September 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child†
- 18 January 2002 -- Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
- 12 February 2002 -- Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict
- 1 July 2003 -- International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families‡
Human Rights Agreements not yet Entered into Force
The following agreements have not yet entered into force, and are listed in the order in which they were adopted by the General Assembly.
- 13 December 2006 -- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities‡
- 13 December 2006 -- Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities‡
- 20 December 2006 -- International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance‡
Humanitarian Law
The core component of international humanitarian law is the four "Geneva Conventions," the first of which was adopted in 1864. Generally, though, the term "Geneva Conventions" refers to the four conventions adopted in 1949. Once again, the dates that the treaties entered into force are listed.
- First Geneva Convention, 21 October 1950 -- Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field
- Second Geneva Convention, 21 October 1950 -- Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea
- Third Geneva Convention, 21 October 1950 -- Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
- Fourth Geneva Convention, 21 October 1950 -- Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War
- 5 March 1970 -- Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
- 26 March, 1975 -- Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction
- Protocol I, 7 December 1979 -- Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts
- Protocol II, 7 December 1978 -- Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts
- 29 April 1997 -- Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction
- 1 March 1999 -- Convention on the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction
- Protocol III, Not yet entered into force -- Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem, 8 December 2005
International Judicial Bodies
Non-Government Human Rights Organizations
- Amnesty International
- Human Rights First
- Human Rights Watch
- International Committee of the Red Cross
- Physicians for Human Rights
Additional Resources
* As an Ecologist, my knowledge of international law is still nascent, so I have primarily focused on compiling a list of the core international human rights treaties. As my knowledge expands, I will supplement these items with more synthesis and discussion.
†Signed, but not ratified by the government of the United States
‡ Neither signed nor ratified by the government of the United States
- 2097 reads
Comments
insulting my religion and forceful removal of my hijab
Complaint regarding insulting my religion and forceful removal of my hijab at Sporting Club
I am a member in Sporting Club in Alexandria. While I was in the cafeteria located in the tennis area, several senior members came in. They want this place exclusively for them. They began to harass me, asking me what my name was, etc. And sending the security guys who asked me to show my club's membership, despite the fact that I was inside the club (although I passed from the club gate and showed it to the security there). I noticed the gossip among the senior members. Then, security spoke to me impolitely and told me that I should show him my membership card for my sake the security guy said to me “better for you to show me the card”. I did not know what he meant by “better for you”! He continued “I will not let you go out of the club and will tie your hands”! , and threatened to bind me and hit me then called the other security guys and blocked my way by his body. He was really close to my body in a way I could not imagine. This cannot be a sporting club security! I tried to go out of this club, but alas! He blocked my way again and was so close that I felt the dribbles of his mouth on my face! , and if I had any dignity I would not show my membership again to impolite and arrogant people like that, He insulted me He kept on saying repeatedly to my face “”you are impolite”, "you are impolite" repeated it several times., I do not know the secret behind this power and arrogance, but it is clear that he is backed by the Security Office and the senior members who want to make this area an exclusive right for the VIP! He repeated that "Ahmed" wanted her. I don’t know who Ahmed is!
The following day, I went to the Security Office to complain. They asked about the time of the accident, I told them 4 p.m. The man there told me that he cannot do anything until he consults "Ahmed Beshr", who is responsible for the security noon shift. I went home and returned back to the club. It was 4.30 p.m. and I entered from the club gate at Abu Qir Street. I showed my membership card to the security as usual. I headed the club Security Office. There, I met Ahmed Beshr, the security manager, who was not less impolite and arrogant than the other security guy! He threatened me saying that he will tie my hands and would not let me out of the club.
An employee in the same office spoke to me rudely and impolitely. At this moment, I understood he is "ahmed " that those are the backing power behind the security behavior. I tried to go out from this office to complain to the club Board of Directors. Ahmed Beshr prevented me and closed the office door. I tried again to go out but Ahmed Beshr slapped me on the face, then another one in the room gave me a box on my eye and another in my head! He started to curse the religion (insult my religion) repeatedly. I shouted out of the window and tried to seek help. Medhat Warda, the famous basketball player, tried to close the window.
I tried to get out but Ahmed Beshr threatened me again saying, “if I see you here again in the club, I will ………”. I tried and insisted to open the door and go out, here Ahmed Beshr told me I will not let you go out and threatened to get a soldier from Sedi Jaber police to tie my hands. Then he, with the other employee and security, caught me by the hand and Ahmed Beshr hit me in my chest. Then Ahmed Beshr kicked me off in the face and abdomen and back and nape. They hit me in several places in my body by their legs and hands. Above all, they unveiled my Hijab!! I am a veiled girl and could not believe what happened and why. After all of this, I was about to faint and fell down on the ground and he trod on me by his legs. This was witnessed by the senior members.
The result is injuries in my eyes, hands, legs and lower abdomen. It is all because I objected to this impolite security man. Ahmed Beshr asked them to throw me out of the club, without my Hijab and without my shoes. I returned back to take my Hijab and search about my shoes. I saw the security guys laugh at me as I was insulted!
I sought help from the people who were passing by and said “I need my Hijab”. The security men refused and shouted at me “shut up! Do not open your mouth and speak one word!”
I really cannot imagine why it happened to me. If I were a criminal, I would never been treated the same and nobody would dare to put their hands on my body! FYI, My parents are old members of the club since it was created. However, things changed and my father has retired 20 years ago. Now the club is for the unrespectable and impolite people! I'm a veiled girl and I also wear a wrist cover so as not to show my hands or part of my body. Given this fact, you can imagine my feelings when my Hijab was taken off and I walked barefoot in front of people. You cannot imagine how I was insulted. All my life, I refuse to join high salary jobs because they ask me to unveil my Hijab. I stick to my religion’s guidelines, although the job is really important to me. How about unveiling me and walking barefoot?!!.
The said Ahmed Beshr threatened that he would send soldiers from Sedi Jaber police station to tie my hands and beat me! FYI, the police station is in front of the club. I went to Sedi Jaber police station and reported against them (Ahmed Beshr and another man in the same office) with recorded incident No 12938/2009, misdemeanor, Sedi Jaber ,
I want to restore my rights from Sporting Club. I really fear for myself and my honor. I need them to sign a non-intervention report, since all club members witnessed the accident without doing anything! Beside the obvious injuries, there were many others that were not felt the same day. I could feel them in the second day. There were bruises along the leg and thigh, when I started combing my hair I discovered a tumor bruise under hair, I could not sleep due to another bruise in my ear. I have not seen my face after the accident and nobody at police station or hospital drew my attention that my eyes were injured and there is a red part inside.
Note: Ahmad Beshr, who is Sporting Club security manager, was the former military intelligence chief
At the Police Station
Sedi Jaber police station
I would like to explain a few things about the issue. I went to the police station which was facing the club. I did not want to make a report at this police station because Ahmed Beshr threatened me that he will call people from there to beat me, but this is the concerned police station. I thought they would treat me impolitely and make harassments and that he would have contacted the police station to reject my report. However, they let me make the report. I came to understand that they fooled me. I could make the report but never got my right! So the report was useless!
I made a report against them and it was the first time I made one. I asked the man there about the hospital, he asked how I knew about it. I said I can't move my finger and there are bruises. He asked me to go and get my father. Although I repeated my question about the hospital, he kept asking me to get my father and asked me to sign the report first. When I got my father and came back, he referred me to the hospital to record the injuries. Then, I came to know that the first report that I signed mentioned nothing about injuries and he annexed the other report that was made in my father’s presence. They played upon my young age and ignorance about laws. When I asked a lawyer about the case, he said it is useless. I knew they have common interests with the club security. Now, I want to complain against Sedi Jabir police station.
alxranda@yahoo.com
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