International Human Rights Conventions of the United Nations
Human rights protect human beings and their dignity in war and in peacetime. These rights are protected under international law and it is the duty of states to ensure they are respected, protected and fulfilled. To this end, the United Nations has developed a body of binding conventions, all stemming from the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
There are basically three distinct types of human rights:
- civil and political rights, e.g. the right to life, peaceful assembly and religious freedom
- economic, social and cultural rights, e.g. the right to work, to education, and to social security
- rights of the third generation, e.g. the right to development and to a clean and healthy environment
The principal United Nations conventions on human rights are the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Switzerland has ratified UN Covenant I, which guarantees rights relating to work, social security, health, education and cultural participation.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Switzerland has ratified UN Covenant II, which contains important guarantees for the protection of civil and political freedoms.
International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination
Switzerland has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. It commits the States Parties to combat all forms of discrimination.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Switzerland is a State Party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which commits States to ensuring equality for women in all areas of life.
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Switzerland has ratified the Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol. It is committed to promoting the rights enshrined therein and cooperates with the competent committee.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Switzerland is a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which gives concrete expression to the human rights of persons under the age of 18.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Switzerland has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which guarantees persons with disabilities the enjoyment of all human rights.
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
Switzerland has ratified the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and implements the obligations arising from it. It cooperates with the Committee and submits its reports.
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
Switzerland has ratified the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and implements the obligations arising from it. It cooperates with the Committee and submits its reports.
Unlike the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the above conventions are binding on states parties. Switzerland has ratified all except the last.
Country reports
The principal UN conventions on human rights establish committees to monitor compliance with their provisions. They provide for a mandatory reporting procedure whereby states which have ratified the conventions submit reports to the relevant committee on the way in which they have fulfilled their human rights obligations. The committee examines the reports and formulates recommendations.
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Contact
State Secretariat STS-FDFA
Bundesgasse 28
3003 Bern
Phone: +41 58 462 30 50