Table of Contents

  1. General Human Rights Treaties

    1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights - (Dec. 10, 1948)

    2. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - (Dec.16, 1966)

    3. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - (Dec.16, 1966)
    a. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - (Dec. 16, 1966)

    b. Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty - (Dec. 15, 1989)
  2. UN Conventions specifically on Human Rights bearing on Criminal Justice

    1. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners - (July 31, 1957; May 13, 1977)

    2. Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners - (Dec. 14, 1990)

    3. http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/h_comp36.htm - (Dec. 9, 1988)

    4. United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of the Liberty - (Dec. 14, 1990)

    5. Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - (Dec. 9, 1975)

    6. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - (Dec. 10, 1984)

    7. Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - (Dec. 4, 2000)

    8. Principles of Medical Ethics relevant to the Role of Health Personnel, particularly Physicians, in the Protection of Prisoners and Detainees against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - (Dec. 18, 1982)

    9. Safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty - (May 25, 1984)

    10. Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials - (Dec. 17, 1989)

    11. Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials - (Sept. 7, 1990)

    12. Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers - (Aug. 27 - Sept. 7, 1990)

    13. Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors - (Aug. 27 - Sept. 7, 1990)

    14. United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (The Tokyo Rules) - (Dec. 14, 1990)

    15. United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (The Riyadh Guidelines) - (Dec. 14, 1990)

    16. United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice ("The Beijing Rules") - (Nov. 29, 1985)

    17. Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power - (Nov. 29, 1985)

    18. Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary - (Nov. 29, 1985; Dec. 13, 1985)

    19. Model Treaty on the Transfer of Proceedings in Criminal Matters - (Dec. 14, 1990)

    20. Model Treaty on the Transfer of Supervision of Offenders Conditionally Sentenced or Conditionally Released - (Dec. 14, 1990)

    21. Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances - (Dec. 18, 1992)

    22. Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions - (May 24, 1989)

    23. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide - (Adopted Dec. 9, 1948; Entered into force Jan. 12, 1951)


  3. International Criminal Law

    1. International Criminal Court - (July 17, 1998)

    2. International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia - (May 25, 1993)

    3. International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda - (Feb. 22, 1995)

    4. Charter of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg - (Aug. 8, 1945)

    5. Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone on the Establishment of a Special Court for Sierra Leone - (Jan. 16, 2002)

  4. Europe

    1. Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms - (Nov. 4, 1950)

    2. European Prison Rules - (Feb. 12, 1987)

    3. European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (and amending protocols) - (Feb. 1, 1989) -
    a. http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/euro/z34eurotort.html
    b. http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/euro/z35.html - (Nov. 26, 1987)
    c. http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/euro/z36.html - (Nov. 26, 1987)
    4. Recommendation 19 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States 'On the Role of Public Prosecution in the Criminal Justice System' - (Oct. 6, 2000)


  5. Latin America

    1. American Convention on Human Rights "Pact of San Jose, Costa Rica" - (Nov. 22, 1969)

    2. Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty - (June 8, 1990)

    3. Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons - June 9, 1994; Entered into force Mar. 28, 1996)

    4. Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture - (Dec. 9, 1985; Entered into force Feb. 28, 1986)


  6. Middle East

    1. Arab Charter on Human Rights - (Sept. 15, 1994)

    2. Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam - (Aug. 5, 1990)


  7. Africa

    1. African Charter on Human and People's Rights - (Oct. 21, 1986)

    2. Resolutions by the African Commission on Human and People's Rights
    a. Resolution on the Right to Recourse Procedure and Fair Trial - (Mar. 9, 1992) - (page 15)

    b. Resolution on the Respect and the Strengthening on the Independence of the Judiciary - (Apr. 4, 1996) - (page 32)

    c. Resolution on the Role of Lawyers and Judges in the Integration of the Charter and the Enhancement of the Commission's work in National and sub-Regional systems - (Apr. 4, 1996) - (page 34)

    3. Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Africa (The Robben Island Guidelines) (Oct. 17 - 23, 2002)
  8. International Association of Prosecutors, Standards of Professional Responsibility and Statement of Essential Duties and Rights of Prosecutors - (Apr. 23, 1999)