Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Migrant Workers The Role of National Human Rights Institutions 2. CORE HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES The international human rights framework consists of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and nine core human rights treaties:51 Treaty Entered into force Ratification51 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 23 March 1976, in accordance with article 49 167 States parties International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 3 January 1976, in accordance with article 27 160 States parties International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 4 January 1969, in accordance with article 19 174 States parties Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 3 September 1981, in accordance with article 27(1) 187 States parties Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 26 June 1987, in accordance with article 27(1) 149 States parties Convention on the Rights of the Child 2 September 1990, in accordance with article 49(1) 193 States parties International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families 1 July 2003, in accordance with article 87(1) 45 States parties Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 3 May 2008, in accordance with article 45(1) 102 States parties International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 23 December 2010, in accordance with article 39(1) 29 States parties Many of the core human rights treaties extend protection to all persons under the State’s territory and jurisdiction, including non-nationals. This is reflected in the language of the provisions,52 including: • non-discrimination clauses that prohibit distinctions of any kind, including on grounds such as race, colour, language, national, ethnic or social origin: for example, articles 2(1) and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; article 2(2) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights • the use of the terms “every human being”, “everyone”, “no one”, “all persons” or “all individuals within its territory” in relation to various rights including the right to life; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; equality and equal protection before the law; and freedom of association: for example, articles 6, 10, 14, 17,18, and 22 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights • the use of the term the “right of everyone” to, among others, social security and adequate standard of living; for example, articles 9 and 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 51 As at 28 March 2012. For updated information, see “Status of Treaties”; Chapter IV: Human Rights; on the UN Treaty Collection website: http://treaties.un.org/Pages/Treaties.asp?id=4&sbid=A&lang=en. 52 The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provide a foundation for the principle of non-discrimination, which is reflected in and further developed by other core human rights treaties. 24 | Chapter 3: Other UN instruments and mechanisms relevant to the rights of migrant workers