Main International Agreements in the area of human rights

ปฏิญญาสากลว่าด้วย สิทธิมนุษยชน ปฏิญญาสากลว่าด้วย สิทธิมนุษยชน

UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966 กติการะหว่างประเทศว่า ด้วยสิทธิของพลเมือง และสิทธิทางการเมือง กติการะหว่างประเทศว่า ด้วยสิทธิของพลเมือง และสิทธิทางการเมือง กติการะหว่างประเทศว่า ด้วยสิทธิของพลเมือง และสิทธิทางการเมือง

Entered into force in 1976 (after ratification by the 35 th country)

The rights protected by the covenant are not different from the rights listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

It has additional protocol which allows individual complaints to an UN committee against the states. The protocol applies only to those countries which have ratified it. Thailand did not sign it.

Another additional protocol was signed later in It forbids death penalty.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights Entered into force in 1976 กติกา ระหว่างประเทศว่า ด้วยสิทธิทางเศรษฐกิจ สังคม และวัฒนธรรม กติกา ระหว่างประเทศว่า ด้วยสิทธิทางเศรษฐกิจ สังคม และวัฒนธรรม กติกา ระหว่างประเทศว่า ด้วยสิทธิทางเศรษฐกิจ สังคม และวัฒนธรรม

It affirms the equality between men and women better than the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Additional rights are fully expressed: the right to trade unions, the right to be protected from starvation, provision of primary education without cost

It has one additional protocol signed in 2008 It allows individual complains to be brought against the states in violation of the right against starvation

The protocol gives the power to UN Committee of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights to investigate serious and systematic violations of other rights by the states

Unlike The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Covenants has binding power on the states.

Convention on the rights of the child 1989 อนุสัญญาว่าด้วยสิทธิ เด็ก

Thailand is party to the Convention since 1992

Key principles: prohibition of discrimination and enhancement of children’s wellbeing

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

Thailand signed the protocol in 2006

Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women 1979 อนุสัญญาว่าด้วยการ ขจัดการเลือกปฏิบัติ ต่อสตรีในทุกรูปแบบ

Thailand is a party to the Convention since 1985

It requires the states to use law to construct new social relationships based on gender equality: law as social engineering

Specific problems: employment discrimination and trafficking

อนุสัญญา ระหว่างประเทศ ว่าด้วยการขจัดการเลือก ปฏิบัติทางเชื้อชาติในทุก รูปแบบ – International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965) อนุสัญญา ระหว่างประเทศ ว่าด้วยการขจัดการเลือก ปฏิบัติทางเชื้อชาติในทุก รูปแบบ – International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965)

Thailand became a party to the Convention in 2003

อนุสัญญา ต่อต้านการ ทารุณกรรมและการ ปฏิบัติหรือการลงโทษ ที่โหดร้าย ไร้ มนุษยธรรม หรือ เหยียดหยามศักดิ์ศรี Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984) อนุสัญญา ต่อต้านการ ทารุณกรรมและการ ปฏิบัติหรือการลงโทษ ที่โหดร้าย ไร้ มนุษยธรรม หรือ เหยียดหยามศักดิ์ศรี Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984)

Thailand became a party to the Convention in 2007

UN Human Rights Organizations

Most of them are formed in accordance with a specific human rights treaty. One type of them is formed by the representatives of the governments, another – by independent experts

Their main function is to ensure the observance of the relevant international agreements by the states

UN Commission of Human Rights created in 1946 as the part of the UN Council for Social and Economic Affairs

In 2006, the Commission has been replaced by the UN Council of Human Rights ( It is in direct accountability to UN General Assembly In 2006, the Commission has been replaced by the UN Council of Human Rights (UNHRC) It is in direct accountability to UN General Assembly

The members of the General Assembly elect the members who occupy the UNHRC's forty-seven seats. General Assembly

Members of the UNHRC are elected to three-year terms.

The UN Council of Human Rights can propose new international agreements.

It also examines periodically (every 4 year) whether the states respect human rights

Three documents are discussed: 1. the report prepared by the country

2. The report prepared by the High Commissioner

3. The report which reflects the position of NGOs submitted by the High Commissioner

The results of the examinations are debated in the Council. After that, the resolutions are taken which contain suggestions.

The US criticized the new idea of the Human Rights Council

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

The post of the commissioner was established in 1993 by the resolution of the UN General Assembly

Before 1993, there was the UN Human Rights Programme which was a small division

Mrs. Pillay is the Commissioner at the moment

Rape and genocide issue freedom of expression and incitement of hatred issue

Status: a member of the UN Secretariat Main offices: Geneva and New York, 11 national offices and 7 regional (850 employees plus 240 at various peace missions)

Tasks: promote and protect human rights

Support for the activities of the UN Human Rights Council and other organizations created under the human rights conventions

Supervision of the states

Coordination of education in the field of human rights

Providing information to the public

Promotion of the ratification of the majour human rights treaties

Five committees can receive individual complaints under certain conditions

1. The Human Rights Committee is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by its State parties. independent expertsInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

All States parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented.

Individual complaints are allowed under optional protocol

complaints complaints complaints complaints complaints 2002 – 103 complaints

2. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is the body of independent experts

the early-warning procedure, the examination of inter-state complaints and the examination of individual complaints.

3. The Committee Against Torture (CAT) is the body of 10 independent experts

the Committee may under certain circumstances consider individual complaints

4. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the body of independent experts

5. The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is the body of independent experts

The Optional Protocol to the Convention gives the Committee competence to examine individual complaints

The Committee Against Torture and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women may, on their own initiative, initiate inquiries if they have received reliable information about violations of the conventionsCommittee Against TortureCommittee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women