treaties

Question 1

what is a treaty

Answer 1

an international agreement between two parties, members or even nations.

is legally binding, ex. global plan of action

Question 1

what is a protocol

Answer 1

a document that is legally binding that allows alteration and amendments to the main treaty

is legally binding

Question 2

what is a convention

Answer 2

something that happens prior to a treaty being formed. can also mean a treaty among a number of countries

is legally binding, ex. geneva convention

Question 3

ICCPR & ICESCR pros and cons

Answer 3

Some Pros:
* 1st legally binding int’l human rights laws
* Clarified rights from UDHR

Cons:
* No international enforcement body; only reports to UN GA
* Not all states signed + ratified

Question 4

Review Process for ICCPR

Answer 4

Done by Human Rights Committee:
* body of 18 independent experts that monitors implementation of the ICCPR
* All States parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how civil and political rights are being implemented.
* Countries submit periodic reviews

Question 5

Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman & Degrading Treatment (1984)

Answer 5

Some Pros:
* Builds on UDHR & ICCPR
* Specifies definition of torture & responsibilities for preventing it
* Prohibits states from relying on evidence gained via torture
* Protects all human beings (not just a state’s own citizens from torture)

Some cons:
* States that have signed+ratified still carry out torture

Question 6

Convention on the Protection of Rights of Migrant Workers (1990)

Answer 6

Some pros:
* Focuses on a specific subset of people often overlooked

Some cons:
* Mostly migrant SOURCE countries have ratified (ex. Philippines)
* Migrant DESTINATION countriesn (e.g. EU, US) have not ratified

Question 7

Rome Statute (1998)

Answer 7

some pros:
* Created the ICC
* Power to investigate & prosecute HR violations
* If UN Security Council allows, countries may be investigated for HR violations

Some cons:
* No Russia, US, China, etc.
* Few convictions; mostly in Africa

Question 8

What does the International Criminal Court do?

Answer 8

(I) Genocide,
(II) Crimes against humanity,
(III) War crimes, and
(IV) Crime of aggression

Question 9

how many core treaties

Answer 9

9 core