International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

Abstract

[1] The 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is one of the most important human rights → treaties in the world. Together with its sister Covenant, the → International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), it forms the treaty versions of the 1948 → Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). As of 14 June 2021, it has global coverage with 173 state parties. It covers a wide range of rights, which are guaranteed for everybody, regardless of race, sex, religion, or other status. [2] The ICCPR was adopted in 1966 and came into force on 23 March 1976 in accordance with its Article 49, three months after the deposit of the 35th instrument of ratification. [3] The ICCPR is supplemented by two Optional Protocols. The first Optional Protocol (OP1) was adopted by the UN General Assembly at the same time as the ICCPR itself, in 1966, and provides for an optional → individual communications mechanism. It came into force on the same date as the ICCPR. As at 14 June 2021, it has 116 state parties. The Second Optional Protocol (OP2) was adopted in 1989 and prohibits the → death penalty. It came into force on 11 July 1991 and has 89 state parties as of 14 June 2021.