UNIT 3-5 Flashcards
significance OF UDHR and crtiicims
. Global Standard: The UDHR is a milestone document that established a universal benchmark
for human rights, influencing the development of international human rights law, national
constitutions, and domestic legal frameworks.
3. Foundation for International Treaties: The UDHR laid the foundation for the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic,
Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which together with the UDHR, form the International
Bill of Human Rights.
Articles of UDHR:
1. We are all born free and equal
2. freedom from discrimination
3. right to life
4. freedom from slavery
5. freedom from torture
6. right to recognition b4 law
7. right to equality b4 law
8. right to remedy
9. freedom from arbitrary decision
10. right to fair trial
it also has other rights such as right to provacy, work, right to rest and leisure, education, freedom of religion or belief, freedom of movement, right to nationality
Criticism
1. Cultural Relativism:
2. Non-Binding Nature:
3. Selective Implementation:
4. Lack of Mechanisms for Redress:
Similarity of UDHR Articles with Indian Constitution
-
Article 1 of UDHR & Article 14 of Indian Constitution: Both emphasize equality before the
law and equal protection of the law, promoting non-discrimination. -
Article 3 of UDHR & Article 21 of Indian Constitution: Both guarantee the right to life and
personal liberty, with the Indian Constitution further expanding on the right to life through
judicial interpretation to include the right to dignity, privacy, and health. -
Article 19 of UDHR & Articles 19, 22 of Indian Constitution: These articles uphold the
freedoms of speech, expression, assembly, association, and movement. -
Article 25 of UDHR & Article 39 of Indian Constitution: Both focus on the right to an
adequate standard of living, including access to food, clothing, housing, and medical care,
reflected in the Directive Principles of State Policy.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
It was designed to address the need for a global
standard of civil and political rights that states would be obligated to respect under international law.
Compliance with the ICCPR is monitored by the United Nations Human Rights Committee,
Article 7
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his free consent to
medical or scientific experimentation.
Article 25 of ICCPR states, “Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity,
without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable
restrictions:
(a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;
(b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be universal
(c) To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country.”
**Optional Protocol I and Optional Protocol II of ICCPR **
- Optional Protocol I: establishes an
individual complaints mechanism, allowing individuals to bring complaints about violations of their rights under the ICCPR before the Human Rights Committee, after exhausting all domestic remedies.
- Optional Protocol II: focuses on the abolition of the death penalty. It aims to further the protection of the right to life
ICCPR important points and indian constitution
-
Right to Life (Article 6): This right is fundamental and non-derogable. In India, Article 21 of
the Constitution guarantees the right to life, which has been expansively interpreted by the
judiciary to include the right to live with dignity, the right to privacy, and the right to a clean
environment. -
Right Against Arbitrary Arrest (Article 9): The ICCPR ensures protection against arbitrary
arrest and detention. In India, Article 22 provides safeguards against arbitrary arrest, including
the right to be informed of the reasons for arrest and the right to legal representation. -
Right Against Inhumane and Degrading Treatment (Article 7): This right prohibits torture
and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. In India, this is reflected in Article 21 and various legal provisions under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other statutes that
prohibit torture. -
Right to a Fair Trial (Article 14): The ICCPR guarantees the right to a fair and public hearing
by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal. In India, this is mirrored in Articles 21 and
22, which ensure the right to a fair trial, legal representation, and other judicial safeguards.
ICCPR vs UDHR
- Legal Status: The UDHR is a non-binding declaration, whereas theICCPR is a legally binding
treaty that imposes specific obligations on state parties. - Scope of Rights: The UDHR covers a broad range of civil, political, economic, social, and
cultural rights, while the ICCPR specifically focuses on civil and political rights. - Enforcement Mechanisms: The ICCPR includes enforcement mechanisms, such as the Human Rights Committee and the individual complaint procedures under its optional protocols,
whereas the UDHR lacks such mechanisms.
International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
The ICESCR was introduced to complement the ICCPR by recognizing and protecting economic,
social, and cultural rights, such as the rights to work, education, health, and an adequate standard of living. the covenant recognizes that without economic, social, and cultural rights, civil and political rights may not be fully realized, especially in developing countries.
Optional Protocol I of ICESCR
Adopted in 2008 and effective from 2013, this protocol allows individuals and groups to file complaints with the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) about violations of the rights enshrined in the ICESCR, after exhausting all domestic remedies. It also allows for inquiries into systematic orgrave violations of rights by state parties.
USA signed but not ratified this
SOME IMPORTANT ARTICLES OF ICESCR,
Article 3= undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural rights
Article 7= right to favourable work conditions, remuneration and fair wages, equal wages for work of equal value , safe and healthy working conditions.
ICCPR vs ICESCR
Difference Between ICCPR and ICESCR
1. Nature of Obligations: The ICCPR requires states to immediately implement civil and
political rights, whereas the ICESCR recognizes that economic, social, and cultural rights are
subject to progressive realization, taking into account the available resources of the state.
-
Rights Covered: The ICCPR focuses on civil and political rights, such as the right to life,
freedom of speech, and the right to a fair trial, while the I**CESCR focuses on economic, social,
and cultural rights, such as the rights to work, education, and health. ** - Enforcement Mechanisms: The ICCPR has more robust enforcement mechanisms, including the Human Rights Committee and optional protocols, while the ICESCR’s enforcement
mechanisms, such as the CESCR and its optional protocol, were developed later and are
considered less stringent.
Convention Against Torture (CAT) and OPCAT
CAT emphasizes that
torture cannot be justified under any circumstances, including war, political instability, or public emergencies. It also requires state parties to ensure that torture victims receive redress and compensation, thereby reaffirming the fundamental human right to dignity and freedom from abuse
The Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), adopted in 2002 and effective from
2006, establishes a system of regular visits by independent international and national bodies to places
where people are deprived of their liberty, such as prisons, detention centers, and psychiatric
institutions. The rationale behind OPCAT is to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment through proactive monitoring and oversight, thereby ensuring that states comply with their obligations under CAT.India has signed it but is yet to ratify the convention
India has signed it but is yet to ratify the convention
Definition of Torture
Article 1 of CAT defines torture as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or
mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for purposes such as obtaining information or a confession,
punishment for an act committed or suspected to have been committed, intimidation, coercion, or for
any reason based on discrimination, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of
or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or person acting in an official capacity. This
definition is significant as it emphasizes the intentionality and official capacity involved in acts of
torture, distinguishing it from other forms of mistreatment.
rights under CAT to prevent torture
ghts Under CAT to Prevent Torture
1. Prompt Investigation: CAT obligates state parties to ensure prompt and impartial
investigations whenever there is reasonable ground to believe that an act of torture has been
committed within their jurisdiction. This requirement aims to prevent impunity and ensure
accountability for acts of torture. In India, the absence of a dedicated anti-torture law has led to
criticisms of delays and inadequacies in investigating allegations of torture by law enforcement
agencies.
2. Training of Officials: Article 10 of CAT mandates that state parties provide education and
training on the prohibition against torture to law enforcement personnel, military personnel,
medical personnel, and other public officials involved in the custody, interrogation, or treatment
of individuals. The objective is to prevent torture through awareness and understanding of legal and ethical standards. In India, while there is some training for police and military personnel on human rights, the effectiveness of this training in preventing torture is debated, and there
have been calls for more rigorous and widespread education efforts.
- parties are banned from deporting, extraditing or refouling people where there are substantial grounds to beleive they will be tortured
Rights of Victims to Complain Against Torture
Under CAT, victims of torture have the right to complain to competent authorities and have their cases
promptly and impartially examined. Article 13 of CAT ensures that complainants and witnesses are
protected against retaliation or intimidation for making such complaints. Furthermore, Article 14
guarantees the right of victims to obtain redress, including fair and adequate compensation and
rehabilitation. In India, although the judiciary has taken a proactive stance in awarding compensation
in cases of custodial torture, the lack of a specific anti-torture law has hindered the establishment of a
comprehensive mechanism for redress and rehabilitation of torture victims.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
Rationale
CEDAW’s rationale lies in its comprehensive
approach to eliminating discrimination against women by requiring state parties to take all appropriate
measures, including legislation, to ensure women’s full development and advancement, enabling them
to enjoy their fundamental freedoms and human rights on an equal basis with men. CEDAW also
addresses cultural and social practices that contribute to gender inequality, advocating for changes in laws, policies, and societal attitudes that perpetuate discrimination.
CEDAW
“Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women”
Part I (Articles 1–6) focuses on non-discrimination, sex stereotypes, and sex trafficking.
Part II (Articles 7–9) outlines women’s rights in the public sphere with an emphasis on political life, representation, and rights to nationality.
Part III (Articles 10–14) describes the economic and social rights of women, particularly focusing on education, employment, and health.