The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was adopted on 16 December 1966 and entered into force on 23 March 1976. Among others, it affirms the following rights:

right of self-determination thanks to which all people may freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development (Art. 1);
right to life (Art. 6);
right to be free from torture, other ill-treatment and slavery (Art. 7 and 8);
right to liberty of movement (Art. 12);
right to private and family life (Art. 17);
right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Art. 18);
right for ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language (Art. 27).

According to Art. 2 ICCPR, the States parties have the obligation to ensure that the above mentioned rights are enjoyed without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Moreover, even if in time of public emergency the States Parties may take proportional measures derogating from their obligations under the ICCPR, no derogation is permitted from the above mentioned articles 6, 7, 8 and 18.

Among its functions, the Human Rights Committee may adopt General Comments on thematic issues expressing its interpretation of the content of the Covenant’s human rights provisions. The Committee has adopted 34 General Comments until 2012. Among others, General Comment no. 12 is specifically dedicated to the right to self-determination of people (Art. 1 ICCPR).