UN Portal - Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human rights, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948, was drafted in direct response to the calamities and barbarous acts experienced by the peoples of the world during the Second World War. It is the embodiment of universal values and transcend cultures, nations and regions, and proclaims the inalienable rights to which all human beings regardless of race colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status are inherently entitled to as human beings. The text consists of 30 articles and stands as the most translated text in the world.

Click here to see the UDHR in Nepali languages.

Treaty Bodies

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
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The phenomenon of racial discrimination was one of the concerns behind the establishment of the United Nations and has therefore been one of its major areas of attention. Parties to the Convention agree to eliminate discrimination in the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights and to provide effective remedies against any acts of racial discrimination through national tribunals and State institutions.

 

Reports
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ICCPR addresses the State’s traditional responsibilities for administering justice and maintaining the rule of law. Many of the provisions in the Covenant address the relationship between the individual and the State. In discharging these responsibilities, States must ensure that human rights are respected, not only for those of the victims but also those of the accused.

The Convention was ratified by the State of Nepal in 1991.
The Second Option Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aiming at the abolition of the death penalty was ratified in 1998.

Reports
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The Covenant embodies some of the most significant international legal provisions establishing economic, social and cultural rights, including, inter alia, rights relating to work in just and favorable conditions; to social protection; to an adequate standard of living including clothing, food and housing; to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health; to education and the enjoyment of benefits of cultural freedom and scientific progress.

The Convention was ratified by the State of Nepal in 1991.
The Optional Protocol has not been signed.

Reports
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Despite the existence of international instruments which affirm the rights of women within the framework of all human rights, a separate treaty was considered necessary to combat the continuing evident discrimination against women in all parts of the world. In addition to addressing the major issues, the Convention also identifies a number of specific areas where discrimination against women has been flagrant, specifically with regards to participation in public life, marriage, family life and sexual exploitation.

The Convention was ratified by the State of Nepal in 1991.

 

Reports
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The overall objective of the Convention is to prevent acts of torture and other acts prohibited under the Convention and to ensure that effective remedies are available to victims when such acts occur. More specifically, the Convention requires State parties to take preventive action against torture such as the criminalization of acts of torture and the establishment of laws and regulations to promote respect for human rights among its public servants for both the alleged victim and the accused.

The Convention was ratified by the State of Nepal in 1991.
The Optional Protocol has not been signed or ratified.

 

Reports
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The Convention embodies four general principles for guiding implementation of the rights of the child: non-discrimination ensuring equality of opportunity; when the authorities of a State take decisions which affect children they must give prime consideration to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development which includes physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, social and cultural development; and children should be free to express their opinions, and such views should be given due weight taking the age and maturity of the child into consideration.

The Convention was ratified by the State of Nepal in 1990.
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict was ratified in 2007
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography was ratified in 2006

 

Reports
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The Convention is a paradigm shift in the treatment of persons with disabilities from a medical or charity perspective to a rights-based approach, ensuring that persons with disabilities have access and can participate in decisions that affect their lives and seek redress for violations of their rights.

The Convention was ratified by the State of Nepal in 2010. Nepal has also signed and ratified the Optional Protocol.

 

Reports

No reports available.

 

Procedures for implementation of human right treaties
By ratifying a treaty, States parties willingly submit their domestic legal system, administrative procedures and other national practices to periodic review by the committees of independent experts. These committees are often referred to as treaty-monitoring bodies (or “treaty bodies”). The main functions of the treaty bodies are to examine reports submitted by State parties and to consider complaints of human rights violations.
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