International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Citation

UN General Assembly, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (Dec. 16, 1966) (full-text).

Overview

The "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights" is a multilateral treaty adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from March 23, 1976. It commits its parties to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial. As of March 2012, the Covenant had 74 signatories and 167 parties.

Article 17 of the Covenant states that "no one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home and correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation."

The ICCPR is part of the International Bill of Human Rights, along with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).