Interesting fact:in 2011, the United Nations declared internet access a basic human right.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the most translated document in the world. It is available in 370 languages. Nevertheless more than 300,000 children under the age of 18 are being exploited as child soldiers in armed conflicts worldwide. 40 million children below the age of 15 suffer from abuse and neglect. 121 million children and adolescents have never had the chance to attend school, or have been forced to drop out. Nearly 21 million people around the world are the victims of forced labour.
Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December. It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966.
The two Covenants, together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, form the International Bill of Human Rights, setting out the civil, political, cultural, economic, and social rights that are the birth right of all human beings.
Facts and Figures about the two Covenants:
The two Covenants are legally binding treaties for the States that are parties.
168 States are party to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights today.
164 States are party to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today.
The two Covenants were adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 December 1966, and entered into force in 1976, after a sufficient number of countries had ratified them.
Each of the Covenants is monitored by a committee of experts, who review the progress of States parties to the treaty. They also hear individual complaints and assess if States need to remedy the situation.
Source: dosomething.org | weforum.org | un.org