All Regional Instruments
   
 
 
Council of Europe
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR)
Date of Adoption: 4/11/1950 Entry into force: 3/9/1953  
Reference: ETS no. : 005
Protocol N°1 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Date of Adoption: 20/3/1952 Entry into force: 18/5/1954  
Reference: ETS no. : 009
European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance
Date of Adoption: 11/12/1953 Entry into force: 1/7/1954  
Reference: ETS no. : 014
Protocol to the European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance
Date of Adoption: 11/12/1953 Entry into force: 1/7/1954  
Reference: ETS no. : 014 A
European Cultural Convention
Date of Adoption: 19/12/1954 Entry into force: 5/5/1955  
Reference: ETS no. : 018
European Convention on Establishment
Date of Adoption: 13/12/1955 Entry into force: 23/2/1965  
Reference: ETS no. : 019
European Agreement on Regulations governing the Movement of Persons between Member States of the Council of Europe
Date of Adoption: 13/12/1957 Entry into force: 1/1/1958  
Reference: ETS no. : 025
European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees
Date of Adoption: 20/4/1959 Entry into force: 4/9/1960  
Reference: ETS no. : 031
European Social Charter
Date of Adoption: 18/10/1961 Entry into force: 26/2/1965  
Reference: ETS no. : 035
Protocol No. 2 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, conferring upon the European Court of Human Rights competence to give advisory opinions
Date of Adoption: 6/5/1963 Entry into force: 21/9/1970  
Reference: ETS no. : 044
Protocol No. 3 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, amending Articles 29, 30 and 34 of the Convention
Date of Adoption: 6/5/1963 Entry into force: 21/9/1970  
Reference: ETS no. : 045
Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, securing certain rights and freedoms other than those already included in the Convention and in the first Protocol thereto
Date of Adoption: 16/9/1963 Entry into force: 2/5/1968  
Reference: ETS no. : 046
European Code of Social Security
Date of Adoption: 16/4/1964 Entry into force: 2/3/2001  
Reference: ETS no. : 048
Protocol to the European Code of Social Security
Date of Adoption: 16/4/1964 Entry into force: 17/3/1968  
Reference: ETS no. : 048A
Protocol No. 5 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, amending Articles 22 and 40 of the Convention
Date of Adoption: 20/1/1966 Entry into force: 20/12/1971  
Reference: ETS no. : 055
European Convention on the Adoption of Children
Date of Adoption: 24/4/1967 Entry into force: 26/4/1968  
Reference: ETS no. : 058
European Agreement relating to Persons Participating in Proceedings of the European Commission and Court of Human Rights
Date of Adoption: 6/5/1969 Entry into force: 17/4/1971  
Reference: ETS no. : 067
European Convention on Social Security
Date of Adoption: 14/12/1972 Entry into force: 1/3/1977  
Reference: ETS no. : 078
European Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitation to Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes
Date of Adoption: 25/1/1974 Entry into force: 2000  
Reference: ETS no. : 082
European Convention on the Legal Status of Children born out of Wedlock
Date of Adoption: 15/10/1975 Entry into force: 11/8/1978  
Reference: ETS no. : 085
European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers
Date of Adoption: 24/11/1977 Entry into force: 1/5/1983  
Reference: ETS no. : 093
European Agreement on Transfer of Responsibility for Refugees
Date of Adoption: 16/10/1980 Entry into force: 1/12/1980  
Reference: ETS no. : 107
Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data
Date of Adoption: 28/1/1981 Entry into force: 1/10/1985  
Reference: ETS no. : 108
Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty
Date of Adoption: 28/4/1983 Entry into force: 1/3/1985  
Reference: ETS no. : 114
Protocol No. 7 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Date of Adoption: 22/11/1984 Entry into force: 1/11/1988  
Reference: ETS no. : 117
Protocol No. 8 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Date of Adoption: 19/3/1985 Entry into force: 1/1/1990  
Reference: ETS no. : 118
European Convention on the Recognition of the Legal Personality of International Non-Governmental Organisations
Date of Adoption: 24/4/1986 Entry into force: 1/1/1991  
Reference: ETS no. : 124
European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Date of Adoption: 26/11/1987 Entry into force: 1/2/1989  
Reference: ETS no. : 126
Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter
Date of Adoption: 5/5/1988 Entry into force: 4/9/1992  
Reference: ETS no. : 128
European Code of Social Security (Revised)
Date of Adoption: 6/10/1990 Entry into force: 2/3/2001  
Reference: ETS no. : 139
Protocol No. 9 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Date of Adoption: 6/11/1990 Entry into force: 1/10/1994  
Reference: ETS no. : 140
Protocol amending the European Social Charter
Date of Adoption: 21/10/1991 Entry into force: -  
Reference: ETS no. : 142
Protocol No. 10 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Date of Adoption: 25/3/1992 Entry into force: -  
Reference: ETS no. : 146
European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
Date of Adoption: 5/11/1992 Entry into force: 1/3/1998  
Reference: ETS no. : 148
Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Date of Adoption: 4/11/1993 Entry into force: 1/3/2002  
Reference: ETS no. : 151
Protocol No. 2 to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Date of Adoption: 4/11/1993 Entry into force: 1/3/2002  
Reference: ETS no. : 152
Protocol No. 11 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, restructuring the control machinery established thereby
Date of Adoption: 11/5/1994 Entry into force: 1/11/1998  
Reference: ETS no. : 155
Protocol to the European Convention on Social Security
Date of Adoption: 11/5/1994 Entry into force: -  
Reference: ETS no. : 154
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
Date of Adoption: 1/2/1995 Entry into force: 1/2/1998  
Reference: ETS no. : 157
Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter Providing for a System of Collective Complaints
Date of Adoption: 9/11/1995 Entry into force: 1/7/1998  
Reference: ETS no. : 158
European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights
Date of Adoption: 25/1/1996 Entry into force: 1/7/2000  
Reference: ETS no. : 160
European Agreement relating to persons participating in proceedings of the European Court of Human Rights
Date of Adoption: 5/3/1996 Entry into force: 1/1/1999  
Reference: ETS no. : 161
Sixth Protocol to the General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe
Date of Adoption: 5/3/1996 Entry into force: 1/11/1998  
Reference: ETS no. : 162
European Social Charter (revised)
Date of Adoption: 3/5/1996 Entry into force: 1/7/1999  
Reference: ETS no. : 163
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine
Date of Adoption: 4/4/1997 Entry into force: 1/12/1999  
Reference: ETS no. : 164
European Convention on Nationality
Date of Adoption: 6/11/1997 Entry into force: 1/3/2000  
Reference: ETS no. : 166
Additional Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine, on the Prohibition of Cloning Human Beings
Date of Adoption: 12/1/1998 Entry into force: 1/3/2001  
Reference: ETS no. : 168
Rules of the European Court of Human Rights - as amended October 2002
Date of Adoption: 1/11/1998 Entry into force: 1/11/1998  
Reference: Registry of The Court, European Court of Human Rights
Clandestine immigration and the fight against traffickers (Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1467 (2000))
Date of Adoption: 29/6/2000 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1467 (2000), Assembly debate on 29 June 2000 (23rd Sitting).
Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Date of Adoption: 4/11/2000 Entry into force: -  
Reference: ETS no. : 177
Additional Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data, Regarding Supervisory Authorities and Transborder Data Flows
Date of Adoption: 8/11/2001 Entry into force: -  
Reference: ETS no. : 181
Convention on Cybercrime
Date of Adoption: 8/11/2001 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Council of Europe
 
European Union
Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
Date of Adoption: 18/4/1951 Entry into force: 23/7/1952  
Reference: ECSC Treaty 1951
Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC)(Treaty of Rome)
Date of Adoption: 25/3/1957 Entry into force: 1/1/1958  
Reference: O.J. 340, 10.11.1997
Joint Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission Concerning the Protection of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Date of Adoption: 5/4/1977 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Official Journal C 103 , 27/04/1977 p. 0001 - 0002
Single European Act
Date of Adoption: 28/2/1986 Entry into force: 1/7/1987  
Reference: OJ L 169, 29. 6. 1987
Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty, amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam) (Consolidated Version)
Date of Adoption: 7/2/1992 Entry into force: 1/11/1993  
Reference: The Treaty on European Union (as amended 02/10/1997 by the Treaty of Amsterdam)
Declaration of the European Union on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights
Date of Adoption: 10/12/1998 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Declaration of the European Union 10/12/98
Cologne European Council Decision on the Drawing Up of a Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Date of Adoption: 4/6/1999 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Annex IV to the Cologne European Council (3 and 4 June 1999) Presidency conclusions
Presidency Conclusions of the Tampere European Council
Date of Adoption: 16/10/1999 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Tampere European Council (15 and 16 October 1999): Presidency conclusions
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Date of Adoption: 7/12/2000 Entry into force: -  
Reference: O.J. no. C 364/ 1, 18 December 2000
Council Framework decision of 13 June 2002 on combating terrorism
Date of Adoption: 13/6/2002 Entry into force: 22/6/2002  
Reference: Official Journal of the European Communities-L.164/3-22.06.2002
 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
The Helsinki Final Act
Date of Adoption: 1/8/1975 Entry into force: -  
Reference: The Helsinki Final Act (CSCE)
Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE
Date of Adoption: 29/6/1990 Entry into force: -  
Reference: CSCE, Second Human Dimension Conference, Copenhagen 1990
Charter of Paris for a New Europe
Date of Adoption: 21/11/1990 Entry into force: -  
Reference: CSCE, Charter of Paris for a New Europe
Document of the Moscow Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE
Date of Adoption: 13/10/1991 Entry into force: -  
Reference: CSCE, Third Human Dimension Conference, Moscow 1991
Helsinki Document 1992: The Challenges of Change
Date of Adoption: 10/7/1992 Entry into force: -  
Reference: CSCE, Helsinki Document 1992
Decision of the Rome Council Meeting of the CSCE: CSCE and the New Europe - Our Security is Indivisible
Date of Adoption: 1/12/1993 Entry into force: -  
Reference: CSCE Fourth Ministerial Council, Rome 1993
 
Organization of African Unity
Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa
Date of Adoption: 10/9/1969 Entry into force: 20/6/1974  
Reference: 1001 U.N.T.S. 45
OAU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenaries in Africa
Date of Adoption: 3/7/1977 Entry into force: 22/4/1985  
Reference: O.A.U. Doc. CM/433/Rev.L, Annex 1(1972)
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Banjul Charter)
Date of Adoption: 27/6/1981 Entry into force: 21/10/1986  
Reference: OAU doc. CAB/LEG/67/3 rev. 5, 21 I.L.M. 58 (1982)
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
Date of Adoption: 11/7/1990 Entry into force: 29/11/1999  
Reference: OAU doc. CAB/LEG/24.9/49 (1990)
Addis Ababa Document on Refugees and Forced Population Displacements in Africa
Date of Adoption: 10/9/1994 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Adopted by the OAU/UHHCR Symposium on Refugees and Forced Population Displacements in Africa, 8 - 10 September 1994, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Rules of Procedure of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Date of Adoption: 6/10/1995 Entry into force: -  
Reference: OAU doc. ACHPR/RP/XIX
Protocol to the African Charter on the Establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights
Date of Adoption: 9/6/1998 Entry into force: -  
Reference: OAU/LEG/MIN/AFCHPR/PROT.1 rev.2 (1997)
Constitutive Act of the African Union
Date of Adoption: 11/7/2000 Entry into force: 26/5/2001  
Reference: OAU Doc. LOME- TOGO 12 JUNE 2000
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa
Date of Adoption: 10/7/2003 Entry into force: -  
Reference: African Union
Protocol of the Court of Justice of the African Union
Date of Adoption: 10/7/2003 Entry into force: -  
Reference: African Union
 
Organization of American States
Inter-american Convention on the Nationality of Women
Date of Adoption: 26/12/1933 Entry into force: 29/8/1934  
Reference: International Conferences of American States, 1st supplement, 1933-1940, p. 106
Charter of the Organization of American States
Date of Adoption: 30/4/1948 Entry into force: 13/12/1951  
Reference: OAS Treaty Series, Nos. 1-C and 61 (A-41)
American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man
Date of Adoption: 2/5/1948 Entry into force: -  
Reference: O.A.S. Res. XXX
Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Political Rights to Women
Date of Adoption: 2/5/1948 Entry into force: 29/12/1954  
Reference: OAS Treaty Series, No. 3 (A-44), 1438 U.N.T.S. 63
Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Civil Rights to Women
Date of Adoption: 2/5/1948 Entry into force: 17/3/1949  
Reference: OAS Treaty Series, No. 23 (A-45), 1438 U.N.T.S. 51
American Convention on Human Rights (Pact of San Jose, Costa Rica)
Date of Adoption: 22/11/1969 Entry into force: 18/7/1978  
Reference: OAS Treaty Series, No. 36 (B-32), OEA/Ser.L.V/II.82 doc.6 rev.1 at 67 (1992)
Statute of the Inter-american Commission on Human Rights
Date of Adoption: 10/1979 Entry into force: 11/1979  
Reference: O.A.S. Res. 447 (IX-0/79), O.A.S. Off. Rec. OEA/Ser.P/IX.0.2/80, Vol. 1 at 88
Statute of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights
Date of Adoption: 10/1979 Entry into force: 1/1/1980  
Reference: O.A.S. Res. 448 (IX-0/79), O.A.S. Off. Rec. OEA/Ser.P/IX.0.2/80, Vol. 1 at 98
Inter-american Convention on Conflict of Laws Concerning the Adoption of Minors
Date of Adoption: 24/5/1984 Entry into force: 26/5/1988  
Reference: OAS Treaty Series, No. 62 (B - 48)
Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture
Date of Adoption: 9/12/1985 Entry into force: 28/2/1987  
Reference: OAS Treaty Series, No. 67 (A-51)
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: "Protocol of San Salvador"
Date of Adoption: 17/11/1988 Entry into force: 16/11/1999  
Reference: OAS Treaty Series, No. 69 (A-52), OAS/Ser.L.V/II.82 doc.6 rev.1 at 67 (1992), OAS no. 69
Inter-american Convention on the International Return of Children
Date of Adoption: 15/7/1989 Entry into force: 4/11/1994  
Reference: OAS Treaty Series, No. 70 (B - 53)
Inter-american Convention on Support Obligations
Date of Adoption: 15/7/1989 Entry into force: 6/3/1996  
Reference: OAS Treaty Series, No. 71 (B - 54)
Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty
Date of Adoption: 8/6/1990 Entry into force: 28/8/1991  
Reference: OAS Treaty Series, No. 73 (A-53)
Inter-american Convention on International Traffic in Minors
Date of Adoption: 18/3/1994 Entry into force: 15/8/1997  
Reference: OAS Treaty Series, No. 79 (B - 57)
Inter-american Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (Convention of Belem do Para)
Date of Adoption: 9/6/1994 Entry into force: 5/3/1995  
Reference: 33 I.L.M. 1534 (1994), (A-61)
Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons
Date of Adoption: 9/6/1994 Entry into force: 28/3/1996  
Reference: 33 I.L.M. 1429, (A-60)
Interamerican Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (Draft)
Date of Adoption: 18/9/1995 Entry into force: 2000  
Reference: OAS
Proposed American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Date of Adoption: 26/2/1997 Entry into force: -  
Reference: OEA/Ser/L/V/.II.95 Doc.6 (1997), AG/RES.1022 (XIX-O/89)
Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities
Date of Adoption: 7/6/1999 Entry into force: 14/9/2001  
Reference: OAS AG/RES. 1608 (XXIX-O/99), (A-65)
Inter-American Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression
Date of Adoption: 10/2000 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
 
Organization of the Islamic Conference
The Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam
Date of Adoption: 5/8/1990 Entry into force: -  
Reference: OIC Resolution No. 49/19-P
 
League of Arab States
Arab Charter on Human Rights
Date of Adoption: 5/9/1994 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Council of the League of Arab States, resolution 5437 (102nd regular session), Cairo
 
Asia-Pacifique Initiatives
Asian Human Rights Charter
Date of Adoption: 17/5/1998 Entry into force: 2000  
Reference: Declared in Kwangju, South Korea
 
Other
Magna Carta Libertatum (1215)
Date of Adoption: 15/6/1215 Entry into force: -  
Reference: -
Edict of Nantes (1598)
Date of Adoption: 13/4/1598 Entry into force: -  
Reference: -
Petition of Rights (1628)
Date of Adoption: 7/6/1628 Entry into force: -  
Reference: England, 1628
Habeas Corpus Act (1679)
Date of Adoption: 27/5/1679 Entry into force: -  
Reference: England, 1679
Bill of Rights (1689)
Date of Adoption: 13/2/1689 Entry into force: -  
Reference: England, 1689
The Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776)
Date of Adoption: 12/6/1776 Entry into force: -  
Reference: -
Declaration of Independence (1776 - Philadelphia)
Date of Adoption: 4/7/1776 Entry into force: -  
Reference: -
Bill of Rights (1789 - US)
Date of Adoption: 4/3/1789 Entry into force: 15/12/1791  
Reference: US Constitution, first 10 Amendments
French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789)
Date of Adoption: 26/8/1789 Entry into force: -  
Reference: -
Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen (1791)
Date of Adoption: 9/1791 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Written by Olympe De Gouges, 1791
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of the Year I (1793)
Date of Adoption: 24/6/1793 Entry into force: -  
Reference: From the French Constitution of the Year I (1793)
Declaration of Rights and Duties of Man and Citizen (1795)
Date of Adoption: 1795 Entry into force: 26/10/1795  
Reference: From the French Constitution of the Year III (1795)
Constitution of the Second Republic and Abolition of Slavery (1848)
Date of Adoption: 28/10/1848 Entry into force: -  
Reference: France
Constitution of Mexico (1917)
Date of Adoption: 31/1/1917 Entry into force: -  
Reference: -
Declaration of Rights of the Laboring and Exploited People
Date of Adoption: 12/1/1918 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Article 1 of the Constitution of the USSR
Limburg Principles on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (The)
Date of Adoption: 6/6/1986 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Declaration made by an informal group experts - Maastricht, 2-6 June 1986 (reprinted in E/C.12/2000/13, 2 October 2000)
The Kampala Declaration on Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility
Date of Adoption: 29/11/1990 Entry into force: -  
Reference: NGO - Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa
Maastricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Date of Adoption: 26/1/1997 Entry into force: -  
Reference: Declaration from a group of experts - Maastricht, 22-26 January 1997 (reprinted in E/C.12/2000/13, October 2000)
Convention on combating bribary of foreign public officials in international business transactions
Date of Adoption: 17/12/1997 Entry into force: 15/2/1999  
Reference: DAFFE/IME/BR(97)20
ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
Date of Adoption: 18/6/1998 Entry into force: -  
Reference: International Labour Organization
The OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises, reviewed 2000
Date of Adoption: 27/6/2000 Entry into force: -  
Reference: DAFFE/IME/WPG(2000)9
United Nations Global Compact - reviewed 2004
Date of Adoption: 26/7/2000 Entry into force: -  
Reference: -