Treaties and Treaty Bodies

Treaties

Treaties are formal agreements between two or more States.  Treaties are legally binding, and so States are obligated to comply with them.

Treaties describe different types of human rights and what States must do to realise these rights

Treaty Bodies
Treaty bodies are Committees set up by some treaties to monitor the way States implement the rights contained in the treaty. The treaty bodies monitor how States put the treaty rights into practice. 

The members of the treaty bodies are experts appointed by Sates Parties.  Some treaty bodies also accept complaints of human rights violations from individuals or groups. An example of a treaty body is the UN Human Rights Committee.

‘Rapid deterioration’ in global investment flows as Coronavirus spreads: UN trade body

‘Rapid deterioration’ in global investment flows as Coronavirus spreads: UN trade body

Many Mozambicans still struggling to get back on their feet, one year after cyclone

Many Mozambicans still struggling to get back on their feet, one year after cyclone

Everyone has the right to live in dignity

The concept of human rights has been defined in various ways different authors.  Human rights can be explained as the basic standards of life without which people cannot live in dignity as human beings.  The key elements of human rights include the following:

·         Human rights are inherent: This means that human right belong to people because they are human.  We are all born with them.

·         Human rights are universal: This means that human rights apply to everyone living everywhere.

·         Human rights are Inalienable:       This means that human rights cannot be taken away, although they can be limited under some legal circumstances such as a “lockdown” as a measure to address a pandemic, e.g. COVID 19. Such a situation may limit a person’s right to freedom of movement.

·         Human rights are indivisible:          This means human rights are interconnected and interdependent.

Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

Yes, everyone has the right to live in dignity, free from fear and free from want.  This means that everyone, young or old, has the right to live without the threat of being physically or mentally mistreated or of being deprived of necessities of life such as food, water and shelter.

A life of dignity is one where all human rights are realized for everyone.  Human rights are often categorized as Civil and Political Rights, such as the right to freedom of expression or the freedom being tortured. We also have Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, such as the right to education or the right to health. 

In spite of these the above categories of human rights, all rights are of equal value, indivisible and interdependent.  No human right can be realized in isolation from other rights. 

Within the United Nations and in the African Union, States have defined people’s rights and State’s duties in human rights promotion, protection and fulfillment through treaties or conventions. Most national constitutions, such as chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, reflect parts of these international standards.

Human rights are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace.  Respect for human rights allows all individuals and the communities in which they live to develop fully and sustainably.

References:

§  SINIKO

§  UN, UDHR

§  Amnesty International, HAKI ZETU, ESC Rights in Practice

Everyone has the right to live in dignity

The concept of human rights has been defined in various ways different authors.  Human rights can be explained as the basic standards of life without which people cannot live in dignity as human beings.  The key elements of human rights include the following:

·         Human rights are inherent: This means that human right belong to people because they are human.  We are all born with them.

·         Human rights are universal: This means that human rights apply to everyone living everywhere.

·         Human rights are Inalienable:       This means that human rights cannot be taken away, although they can be limited under some legal circumstances such as a “lockdown” as a measure to address a pandemic, e.g. COVID 19. Such a situation may limit a person’s right to freedom of movement.

·         Human rights are indivisible:          This means human rights are interconnected and interdependent.

Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

Yes, everyone has the right to live in dignity, free from fear and free from want.  This means that everyone, young or old, has the right to live without the threat of being physically or mentally mistreated or of being deprived of necessities of life such as food, water and shelter.

A life of dignity is one where all human rights are realized for everyone.  Human rights are often categorized as Civil and Political Rights, such as the right to freedom of expression or the freedom being tortured. We also have Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, such as the right to education or the right to health. 

In spite of these the above categories of human rights, all rights are of equal value, indivisible and interdependent.  No human right can be realized in isolation from other rights. 

Within the United Nations and in the African Union, States have defined people’s rights and State’s duties in human rights promotion, protection and fulfillment through treaties or conventions. Most national constitutions, such as chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, reflect parts of these international standards.

Human rights are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace.  Respect for human rights allows all individuals and the communities in which they live to develop fully and sustainably.

References:

§  SINIKO

§  UN, UDHR

§  Amnesty International, HAKI ZETU, ESC Rights in Practice

Everyone has the right to live in dignity

The concept of human rights has been defined in various ways different authors.  Human rights can be explained as the basic standards of life without which people cannot live in dignity as human beings.  The key elements of human rights include the following:

·         Human rights are inherent: This means that human right belong to people because they are human.  We are all born with them.

·         Human rights are universal: This means that human rights apply to everyone living everywhere.

·         Human rights are Inalienable:       This means that human rights cannot be taken away, although they can be limited under some legal circumstances such as a “lockdown” as a measure to address a pandemic, e.g. COVID 19. Such a situation may limit a person’s right to freedom of movement.

·         Human rights are indivisible:          This means human rights are interconnected and interdependent.

Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

Yes, everyone has the right to live in dignity, free from fear and free from want.  This means that everyone, young or old, has the right to live without the threat of being physically or mentally mistreated or of being deprived of necessities of life such as food, water and shelter.

A life of dignity is one where all human rights are realized for everyone.  Human rights are often categorized as Civil and Political Rights, such as the right to freedom of expression or the freedom being tortured. We also have Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, such as the right to education or the right to health. 

In spite of these the above categories of human rights, all rights are of equal value, indivisible and interdependent.  No human right can be realized in isolation from other rights. 

Within the United Nations and in the African Union, States have defined people’s rights and State’s duties in human rights promotion, protection and fulfillment through treaties or conventions. Most national constitutions, such as chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, reflect parts of these international standards.

Human rights are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace.  Respect for human rights allows all individuals and the communities in which they live to develop fully and sustainably.

References:

§  SINIKO

§  UN, UDHR

§  Amnesty International, HAKI ZETU, ESC Rights in Practice

Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want

AGENDA 2063 is Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. It is the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance The genesis of Agenda 2063 was the realisation by African leaders that there was a need to refocus and reprioritise Africa’s agenda from the struggle against apartheid and the attainment of political independence for the continent which had been the focus of The Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union; and instead to prioritise inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security amongst other issues aimed at repositioning Africa to becoming a dominant player in the global arena.

As an affirmation of their commitment to support Africa’s new path for attaining inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development African heads of state and government signed the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the formation of the OAU /AU in May 2013. The declaration marked the re-dedication of Africa towards the attainment of the Pan African Vision of An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena and Agenda 2063 is the concrete manifestation of how the continent intends to achieve this vision within a 50 year period from 2013 to 2063. The Africa of the future was captured in a letter presented by the former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlaminin Zuma.

The need to envision a long-term 50 year development trajectory for Africa is important as Africa needs to revise and adapt its development agenda due to ongoing structural transformations; increased peace and reduction in the number of conflicts; renewed economic growth and social progress; the need for people centered development, gender equality and youth empowerment; changing global contexts such as increased globalization and the ICT revolution; the increased unity of Africa which makes it a global power to be reckoned with and capable of rallying support around its own common agenda; and emerging development and investment opportunities in areas such as agri-business, infrastructure development, health and education as well as the value addition in African commodities

Agenda 2063 encapsulates not only Africa’s Aspirations for the Future but also identifies key Flagship Programmes which can boost Africa’s economic growth and development and lead to the rapid transformation of the continent.

Agenda 2063 also identifies key activities to be undertaken in its 10 year Implementation Plans which will ensure that Agenda 2063 delivers both quantitative and qualitative Transformational Outcomes for Africa’s people.

CREDIT:  https://au.int/en/agenda2063/overview