From 1947 to 1966, the United Nations Human Rights Commission’s main work was to create a body of international human rights law based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

International law is defined as the body of rules that nations generally recognize as binding in their conduct toward one another.

The Commission’s work produced two major treaties: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Both came into force in 1976.

Along with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ICCPR and ICESCR comprise the “International Bill of Human Rights.”

So far a total of 151 states have signed and ratified the ICCPR, which means that they have formally agreed to abide by its principles.

Article 26 of the ICCPR established a Human Rights Committee of the United Nations. Composed of 18 human rights experts, the Committee is responsible for ensuring that each signatory to the ICCPR complies with its terms.

Photo credits:
United Nations General Assembly – United Nations