By ratifying international human rights treaties, Governments commit themselves to adopting national measures and legislation consistent with treaty obligations. In cases where national judicial proceedings do not involve human rights violations, there are mechanisms and procedures at the regional and international levels for the submission of individual complaints or communications that help to ensure that international human rights standards are effectively respected, implemented and respected at the local level. International human rights law sets out the obligations that states must respect. By acceding to international treaties, States assume obligations under international law and obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights. The obligation to respect them means that States must refrain from interfering with or restricting the enjoyment of human rights. The obligation to protect them requires states to prevent human rights violations against individuals and groups. The obligation to implement them means that States must take positive measures to facilitate the enjoyment of fundamental human rights. A number of international human rights treaties and other instruments adopted since 1945 have created a legal basis for inherent human rights and developed the corpus of international human rights. At the regional level, other instruments have been adopted that reflect the specific human rights concerns of each region and establish certain protection mechanisms. Most states have also adopted constitutions and other laws that formally protect basic human rights. While international treaties and customary law are the backbone of international human rights law, other instruments such as internationally agreed declarations, guidelines and principles contribute to its understanding, implementation and development. Respect for human rights requires the establishment of the rule of law at the national and international levels. The international human rights movement was strengthened by the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948.
The Declaration, formulated as a “common standard of achievement to which all peoples and nations should aspire”, clearly states, for the first time in human history, the fundamental civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all peoples should enjoy. Over the years, the Declaration has been widely accepted as the fundamental human rights standard that must be respected and protected by all. The Universal Declaration, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its two Optional Protocols, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights form the “International Bill of Human Rights”.