This resource guide is intended to help you find United Nations Treaties on human rights, including the rights of the child, violence against women, and international criminal law.

Tip: The best place to start your search is the UN Treaty Collection.

What’s the Difference?

“Convention”

“Agreement”

“Protocol”

“Charter”

See the
UN Explanation of Treaty Titles.

United Nations Treaty Databases

International Courts, Tribunals, and Commissions

Basic Human Rights Treaties

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (10 December 1948)
Geneva Convention I – wounded in the field (21 October 1950)
Geneva Convention II – wounded at sea (21 October 1950)
Geneva Convention III – prisoners of war (21 October 1950)
Geneva Convention IV – civilians (21 October 1950)
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (23 March 1976)
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (23 March 1976)
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) (3 January 1976)
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (12 January 1951)
Convention against Torture (26 June 1987)

Women’s Rights

Legal Instruments and Declarations

Convention on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (1993) (legally binding to parties that ratify the treaty. The United States signed the treaty on July 17, 1980 but has not ratified the treaty. See my blog on pending treaties in the United States.)
United Nations General Assembly Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (A/RES/48/104). (The Declaration is not legally binding.)
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995

United Nations Agencies and Programs

Organizations Working to Advance Women’s Rights

Children

Rights of the Child

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Convention on the Rights of the Child (2 countries signed, 192 ratified)
Protocol: Rights of the child in armed conflict (117 countries signed, 88 ratified)
Protocol: Rights of the child on sale, prostitution, porn (110 countries signed, 87 ratified)

Refugees

UN General Assembly Resolution

World Refugee Day, Resolution 55/76

International Treaties and Declarations

United Nations Refugee Convention (28 July 1951)
Protocol to United Nations Refugee Convention (New York Protocol) (1967)
Constitution of the International Refugee Organization (20 August 1948)
Organisation of African Unity Convention on Refugees (10 September 1969)
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950)
Cartagena Declaration on Refugees (22 November 1984) (Spanish)
San Jose Declaration on Refugees and Displaced Persons (7 December 1994)
Mexico Declaration on Refugees (16 November 2004)

International Treaties – Civilians in Conflict

Geneva Convention, Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (21 October 1950)

International Treaties – Human Trafficking, Prostitution, Discrimination

International Treaties – Children in Conflict

Convention on the Rights of the Child (2 countries signed, 192 ratified)
Protocol: Rights of the child in armed conflict (117 countries signed, 88 ratified)
Protocol: Rights of the child on sale, prostitution, porn (110 countries signed, 87 ratified)
Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and Children (1921)
Protocol to Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and Children (12 November 1947)

UN Programs and Agencies

Organizations (NGOs)

Institutes

Project on Internally Displaced Persons The Brookings Institution, USA
Institute for the Study of International Migration Georgetown University, USA
Centre for the Study of Forced Migration University of Dar Es-Salaam, Tanzania
Centre for Refugee Studies York, Canada

Employment Opportunities in Refugee and Humanitarian Aid

Volunteer Opportunities in Refugee and Humanitarian Aid

Donate to Organizations Providing Aid to Refugees

Human Rights Research Guide