UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS INDEX OHCHR.org

• Right of peoples to self-determination;
• Right to determine freely their political status;
• Right to pursue freely their economic, social and cultural development;
• Right to dispose of their natural resources.

2.1. Acceptance of international norms

2.2. Reservations

	See also:	2.1. Acceptance of international norms
		2.3. Derogation

Only general observations related to reservations are included in this category. Reservations made to a specific right are generally classified under the category related to that right.

• Reservation (compatibility with the object and purpose of the treaty);
• Interpretative declaration;
• Objection to a reservation from another State.

2.3. Derogation

3.1. Cooperation with treaty bodies

3.2. Cooperation with special procedures

3.3. Cooperation with other international mechanisms and institutions

See also : 38.1 Human rights, structural adjustment & foreign debt

• IMF and World Bank policies;
• Percentage of official development assistance;
• International and regional assistance and cooperation;
• Creation of favourable conditions for the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

Only general observations related to the implementation of the international treaty as such and not the specific rights enshrined in these treaties are classified under these categories. Issues related to the implementation of a specific right will be classified under the specific category. For example, legislation to provide for the right to education will be found under "Right to Education".

5.1. Constitutional & legislative framework

5.2. Institutions & policies

5.3. Political framework & good governance

See also : 25. Right to education

This category is only used when discussing measures in place to promote a culture of human rights and a spirit of peace and tolerance through awareness raising and training activities. This category should not be confused with the right to education.

• Introduction of human rights and peace education in school curriculum;
• Programmes and activities aimed at creating an environment of tolerance, peace and understanding;
• Awareness-raising campaigns about human rights and international human rights law among the public at large;
• Human rights training provided to States officials (e.g. law enforcement personnel, penitentiary staff, medical personnel, judges, the military).

7.1. Context, statistics, budget, cooperation with civil society

This category stands alone when there is a general policy of discrimination, otherwise another substantive right is selected together with category 8 (e.g. when the issue of discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS is addressed both categories 8 (Equality & Non-Discrimination and 24 (Right to Health) are selected).

• Equality before the law;
• Equal protection of the law;
• Prohibition of discrimination/distinction, exclusion/restriction on grounds such as language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or other status;
• Discrimination by public authorities, the community, private persons or bodies;
• Special measures (affirmative action);
• Provision of redress.

This category stands alone when discussing general issues related to racial discrimination (e.g. plan of action against racial discrimination), whereas it is accompanied by additional categories in the case of racial discrimination in the implementation of a specific right (e.g. unequal access to education for members of an ethnic minority).

Conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are also classified under this category.

• Distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin;
• Nullify, impair the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights;
• Right to access any place or service for use by the public;
• Special measures (affirmative action);
• Condemn/punish racial discrimination,
• Dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, incitement to racial hatred;
• Prohibition of organizations and propaganda activities of a racist character;
• Condemnation of apartheid;
• Effective remedies;
• Measures in the field of teaching, education, culture and information; promotion of understanding, tolerance and friendship.

This category was created for systematic purposes only, in order to bring all non-discrimination issues together. Upon selection as search parameter, the search is automatically redirected to use category 29.1 (Discrimination against Women).

In principle, topics of life-threatening clandestine abortion, female infanticide, femicide, burning of widows, and dowry killings are included under category 29.2 (Gender-based violence), unless the body examines the issue under a particular legal perspective. This is the case, for instance for the Human Rights Committee, according to which, life-threatening clandestine abortion would figure under this category (Right to life).

• Murders;
• Death in custody;
• Euthanasia and assisted suicide, suicide;
• Right of the child to life, survival and development;
• "Social cleansing" of street children;
• Honour killings.

This category includes excessive use of force resulting in death.

Conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions are also classified under this category.

• Guarantees required by international law in the imposition of the death penalty (most serious crimes, legality, non-retroactivity, final judgement, competent court);
• Protection of children and pregnant women;
• Amnesty, pardon or commutation of sentence;
• Moratorium;
• Call for the abolition of the death penalty.

Conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment are also classified under this category.

• Torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment / ill-treatments (corporal punishment; excessive use of force amounting to torture or ill-treatment),
• Prohibition of non-voluntary medical or scientific experimentation;
• Obligation to take effective measures to prevent;
• No justification for torture;
• Principle of non-refoulement;
• Offence punishable under criminal law; criminal jurisdiction;
• Obligation to investigate, prosecute and punish; aut judicare aut dedere/extradition treaties; judicial assistance;
• Education, information and training for personnel; review of interrogation rules and practice;
• Right to complain / rights to effective remedy; compensation; rehabilitation;
• Inadmissibility of statement obtained under duress/torture as evidence in proceeding;
• Prohibition of life imprisonment for children.

When indexing concluding observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, issues related to adequate food and access to medical care of detainees are usually indexed under categories relating to the right to health, right to food. The rule "the body decides" is followed.

Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child pertaining to articles 6 and 39 CRC are usually indexed under category 30.4 (Juvenile justice). The rule "the body decides" is followed.

• Humane treatment and respect for the dignity of persons deprived of their liberty;
• Segregation/separation of accused/convicted persons, juvenile/adults offenders;
• Reformation and social rehabilitation;
• Medical care;
• Adequate food;
• Visiting rights;
• Solitary confinement;
• Overcrowding.

Conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences are classified under this category.

• Slavery, slave-trade, slavery-like practices;
• Forced labour, bonded labour;
• Trafficking in human being, forced marriages (only if the body clearly identifies this issue as a form of slavery);
• Women: trafficking of women and exploitation of prostitution.

• Right to security of person and protection by the State against violence or bodily harm, whether inflicted by State officials or by any individual group or institution;
• Attacks on judges, journalists, human rights defenders, etc.;
• Domestic violence (this issue has been addressed by the Human Rights Committee under art. 9 ICCPR until 2003, often in conjunction with art. 3 ICCPR).

Conclusions and recommendations of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances are classified under this category.

• Disappearances;
• Enforced disappearances;
• Prolonged incommunicado detention;
• Secret detention facilities.

Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child pertaining to articles 37 (b)-(d) and 39 CRC are usually included under category 30.4 (juvenile justice). The rule "the body decides" is followed.

Conclusions and recommendations of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention are classified under this category.

• Right to control the legality of the detention by a court;
• No detention on ground of inability to fulfil a contractual obligation;
• Guarantees in criminal cases: right to be informed of the charges, right to be promptly brought before a judge, trial within a reasonable time or release (preventive detention);
• Right to compensation,

See also: 13.1 Liberty & security - general

• Freedom of movement and residence;
• Freedom to leave any country;
• Right to enter own country;
• Expulsion and extradition;
• Right to seek asylum.

Conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief are classified under this category.

• Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief
• Freedom to manifest religion or belief (either individually or in community with others and in public or private);
• Liberty of parents or legal guardians to ensure that their children receive a religious and moral education;
• Conscientious objection.

Conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression are also classified under this category.

• Right to hold and express opinion;
• Press freedom;
• Freedom to impart, seek, and receive information;
• No propaganda for war or advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred;
• Right of the child to freedom of expression and access to appropriate information;
• Right of persons with disabilities to seek and receive information in accessible and usable formats and impart information and ideas through all forms of communication of their choice;

• Peaceful character of the gathering (intentional, temporary, for a specific purpose);
• Demonstrations, public meetings.

"Trade union rights" are only included under this category when mentioned by the Human Rights Committee, otherwise the issue is classified under category 23.3 (Trade Union Rights).

• Right to freedom of association;
• Registration of civil society organizations (NGOs);
• Creation of a political party.

See also: 13.1 Liberty & security - general

• Right to be protected against arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy, family, home or correspondence;
• Data protection;
• Right to be protected against unlawful attacks on honour and reputation;
• Rights of the child to privacy, family, home or correspondence, honour and reputation,
• Persons with disabilities: privacy of personal, health and rehabilitation information.

Concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child pertaining to art. 40 CRC are usually indexed under category 30.4 (Juvenile Justice). The rule "the body decides" is followed.

Conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers are also classified under this category.

• Equality before the courts, equal access to courts;
• Right to a fair and public hearing/fair trial;
• Competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law;
• Independence of the judiciary, independence of judges and lawyers;
• Right of everyone to be informed of the charge in a language he/she understands;
• Presumption of innocence;
• Nulla poena sine lege;
• Right to compensation;
• Ne bis in idem;
• Non-retroactivity of criminal law;
• Right of defense: right to counsel/independence of lawyers, witnesses, assistance of an interpreter, not be compelled to testify against himself or to confess guilt, right to appeal against a judgement);
• Women: legal capacity identical to that of men.

This category essentially contains information from the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.

This category essentially contains information from the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination.

• International/ internal armed conflict;
• Situation of occupation;
• Protection of civilian populations;
• Access to humanitarian assistance;
• Four Geneva Conventions of 1949 & additional Protocols 1977.

In principle, the "right to water" (including issues like access to safe/potable drinking water; privatisation of water supply) appears under this category (see the General Comment No. 15 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), unless the body links it with another right, e.g. right to food (category 22.2), right to an adequate housing (category 22.3), or right to health (category 24).

• Right of everyone to an adequate standard of living, continuous improvement of living conditions;
• Poverty / poverty line;
• International cooperation;
• Children: right of the child to a standard of living adequate for his/her physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development; primary responsibility of parents / obligation of State to assist parents and others responsible for the child (CRC art. 27).

Conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food are also classified under this category.

• Access to adequate food (policies, laws and practices affecting access);
• Right to freedom from hunger and malnutrition;
• Obligations to improve methods of production, conservation and distribution;
• Reform of the agrarian system: ecological sustainability, food security, protection and conservation of resources;
• Nutritional survey;
• Situation of vulnerable or disadvantaged groups: landless /marginalized peasants, rural workers/unemployed, urban unemployed/poor, migrant workers, indigenous peoples, children, elderly people, other especially affected groups.

• Access to housing;
• Affordability of housing, illegal settlements or housings;
• Homelessness;
• Speculation on housing and property;
• Access to basic amenities such as water, heating, waste disposal, sanitation facilities, electricity, postal service etc;
• Over-crowded, damp, structurally unsafe housing conditions affecting health;
• Building regulations;
• Environmental planning;
• Security of tenure /eviction;
• Use of land;
• Land distribution/ allocation/ planning/ expropriation; compensation for expropriation/ rehousing.

• Right to social security, including social insurance (medical care, cash sickness/maternity/pension/invalidity/survivors/unemployment/injury/family benefits; public and private insurances);
• Right guaranteed without discrimination (women, migrants, no discrimination on ground of race or disability);
• Assistance to parents for material well-being of their child. (This issue can also be found under 30.2 following the rule "the Body decides.”).

This category essentially contains information from the Independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty.

This category essentially contains information from the Independent expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

• Freedom to work;
• Opportunity to freely choose or accept a work;
• States’ obligation to promote employment (guidance, training, policies);
• Equality and non-discrimination with regard to the right to work (especially concerning women, young persons, persons with disabilities, and other groups),
• Persons with disabilities: vocational and professional rehabilitation, job retention and return-to-work programmes.

In principle, references to "minimum wages not sufficient to provide for minimum standard of living" are included in the present category. However, depending on the context and the body, they might also be included under category 22.1 (minimum standard of living). Observations about maternity leave (CEDAW art. 11) may be found under this category or under „Rights related to marriage & family“, or „Right to social security“. The rule "the body decides" is followed.

• Right to a fair remuneration;
• Right to safe and healthy working conditions;
• Rights to vocational guidance and training;
• Working hours, rest breaks, paid rest, overtime pay;
• Equality of treatment in employment or occupation;
• Protection of vulnerable groups in employment (pregnant women, maternity leave, children, persons with disabilities etc.).

See also : 14.5 Freedom of association

When the Human Rights Committee mentions “Trade union rights” in relation with art. 22 ICCPR, the category "Freedom of Association" is selected.

• Right to form and join trade unions, to establish federations of trade unions;
• Right of trade unions to function freely;
• Right to strike.

Conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health are classified under this category.

• Right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health;
• Access to quality health services;
• Life expectancy
• Free, high-quality and universal primary health care, infant immunization;
• Reduction of infant and maternal mortality;
• Prevention, treatment and control of preventable waterborne and communicable diseases, and of epidemic/endemic/occupational/other diseases;
• Access to safe drinking water;
• Access to mental health services;
• Access to sexual and reproductive health services and contraceptives;
• Access to substitute drug dependence treatment;
• Measures to control the spread of HIV/AIDS (awareness and knowledge of prevention and protection methods, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, universal and cost-free access to antiretroviral therapy);
• Environmental and industrial hygiene;
• Rights and situation of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups (children, elderly, mothers, disabled, mentally ill, persons deprived of their liberty, others);
• Training of health personnel;
• Education/awareness-raising about health problems/prevention;
• National policies, laws and practices.

Conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education are also classified under this category.

This category includes information about:

a) Aims and objectives of education

• Full development of human personality;
• Strengthen respect for human rights, enable tolerance, respect for cultural identity and diversity;
• Prepare for responsible life in free society, respect for environment;
• Elimination of stereotypes at all levels and in all forms of education; revision of textbooks;
• Right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities.

b) Access to education, right to receive education

• Compulsory and available free primary education, accessible and available secondary education, including technical and vocational education, general access to higher education on the basis of capacity, progressive introduction of free secondary and higher education;
• Equal access and enjoyment to education by particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged groups: street children, children living in poverty, in rural or remote areas, migrants, children with disabilities, members of minorities, indigenous children, etc.
• Equal opportunities to continuing education;
• Dropout rates;
• Fundamental education for those not having received or completed primary education (illiteracy);
• Representation of women at decision-making levels in the area of education;
• Availability and quality of teachers.

c) Freedom to choose education

• Right of minority and ethnic groups to receive education in their own languages;
• Possibility to set up and manage educational institutions;
• Rights of parents to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.

This category contains information from various special procedures mandate holders but not from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises since its mandate does not allow for the possibility to conduct country visits. The reports issued by the SRSG are not country-specific and cannot be indexed in the database.

• Human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises;
• State’s duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including business, through appropriate policies, regulation, and adjudication;
• Corporate responsibility to respect human rights;
• Greater access by victims to effective remedy.

This category essentially contains information from the Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights.

• Threat to the human rights to life and health posed by the illicit traffic and the dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes;
• Regulation of the production, management, trade and disposal of toxic and dangerous products and wastes.

• Adequate legislation prohibiting discrimination against women;
• De facto equal right of men and women;
• Elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises;
• Temporary special measures (affirmative action);
• Elimination of stereotypes and patriarchal attitudes;
• Gender mainstreaming, gender budgeting, policies;
• Effective national machinery, institutions and procedures.

Only general references to "violence against women" are included under this category. In principle, the present category is related to violence committed by private persons. By contrast, violence committed by State officials, such as torture or ill-treatment in detention, and violence clearly legally qualified such as trafficking in women and girls are included under the relevant specific categories. In the case of article 23 ICCPR or 10 ICESCR and if domestic violence affects the entire family, the observation will be classified under category 19 (Rights related to marriage and family).

Conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences are also classified under this category.

• Any act of violence targeted against women;
• Domestic violence;
• Harmful traditional and cultural norms and practices (female genital mutilation; widowhood rites; dowry killings; early and forced marriage, levirate marriage, etc.);
• Life-threatening clandestine abortion;
• Sexual violence, rape, including marital rape;
• Female infanticide;
• Honour crimes.

General statements concerning the protection of the rights of the child are included under this category, unless a more specific category can be identified (e.g. "protection measures against child labour" would figure under category 30.2 (Children: Protection against Exploitation)).

• Definition of the child, minimum legal age (CRC, art.1);
• General principles: Non-discrimination; best interests of the child; right to life, survival and development; respect for the views of the child (CRC, arst. 2, 3, 6 and 12);
• Protection of the child: general principle.

When other bodies than the Committee on the Rights of the Child address family or marriage related matters, the category 19 (Rights related to marriage and family) is usually selected.

• Parental guidance (CRC art. 5);
• Parental responsibility (CRC art. 18 (1-2));
• Separation from parents (CRC art. 9);
• Family reunification (CRC art. 10);
• Illicit transfer and non-return (CRC art. 11);
• Childcare services and facilities (CRC art. 18 (3));
• Abuse and neglect (CRC art. 19), including physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration (CRC art. 39);
• Children deprived of their family environment (CRC art. 20);
• Adoption (CRC art. 21);
• Periodic review of placement (CRC art. 25);
• Recovery of maintenance for the child (CRC art. 27 (4)).

See also : 12.7 Prohibition of slavery, trafficking

Conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography are also classified under this category.

• Economic exploitation of children, including child labour (CRC art. 32);
• Sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (CRC art. 34);
• Other forms of exploitation (CRC art. 36);
• Sale, trafficking and abduction (CRC art. 35);
• Drug abuse (CRC art. 33);
• Physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration (CRC art. 39).

All issues related to the administration of juvenile justice, when addressed by CRC, are indexed under this category.

• Administration of juvenile justice, age of criminal responsibility;
• Physical and psychological recovery;
• Social reintegration;
• Death penalty;
• Conditions of detentions;
• Pre-trial detention;
• Right to liberty & security;
• Fair trial.

See also : 20.3 International humanitarian law

When indexing the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the rights of the child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OP-CRC-AC), this category is always selected, together with other relevant categories. This category is also selected when the Committee on the rights of the Child addresses the issue under art. 38 of the Convention.

• Minimum age of recruitment;
• Protection and care of children affected by armed conflict;
• Physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration.

• Definition of persons with disabilities (CRPD, art.1);
• Definition of communication, language, discrimination on the basis of disability, reasonable accommodation, universal design (CRPD, art.2);
• General principles: inherent dignity, autonomy, independence, non-discrimination, full and effective participation and inclusion in civil society, respect of difference and acceptance, equality of opportunity, accessibility, equality between men and women, respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities. (CRPD, art.3).

• Accessibility (to the physical environment, transportation, information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems) (CRPD, art. 9);
• Signage in Braille and in easy to read and understand forms;
• Live assistance and intermediaries (including guides, readers and professional sign language interpreters),
• Personal mobility (including quality mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies) (CRPD, art.20).

• Prevention and protection against exploitation, violence and abuse within and outside home (CRPD, art. 16);
• Ensure that protection services are age-, gender- and disability-sensitive (CRPD, art. 16); ;
• Recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims (CRPD, art. 16);
• Respect for physical and mental integrity (CRPD, art. 17).

• Right to full inclusion and participation in the community, in all aspects of life (CRPD, art. 19);
• Right to choose place of residence (including where and with whom) (CRPD, art. 19);,
• Right not to be obliged to live in a particular living arrangement (CRPD, art. 19);
• Access to in-home, residential and other community support services (CRPD, art. 19);
• Right to attain and maintain maximum independence, full physical, mental, social and vocational ability (CRPD, art. 26);
• Provide habilitation and rehabilitation services and programmes (CRPD, art. 26).

• Ensure protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk (including armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies, natural disasters) (CRPD, art.11).

• Participation on equal basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, at all levels (CRPD, art. 30);
• Opportunity to organize, develop and participate in disability-specific activities (CRPD; art. 30);
• Access to sporting, recreational and tourism venues (CRPD, art. 30).

[1] ICESCR, ICCPR, ICERD, CAT, CEDAW, CRC, CMW, CRPD, and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance which has not yet entered into force. For abbreviations see http://uhri.in.ohchr.org/about/abbreviations.