International human rights law codifies legal provisions governing human rights in various international human rights instruments. It is related to, but not the same as International Humanitarian Law and Refugee Law.

Sources of Human Rights Law

The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights is generally agreed to mark the beginning of International Human Rights Law, though of course many states recognised human rights before this. It is a non-treaty text that has over time been complemented by a series of legally binding international treaties.

Declarations and treaties relating to International Human Rights Law are discussed in the article International human rights instruments.

Some customary peremptory norms of human rights are also recognised, and these are considered binding on all nations, whether party to a human rights treaty or not.

Administration of Human Rights Law

These are then administered by various international bodies – such as the United Nations, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights – and monitored by various non-governmental organizations.

See Also

• International Law
• International Humanitarian Law
• Refugee Law
• International human rights instruments
• European Convention on Human Rights