Use of legislation to regulate activities of human rights defenders 2012, para. 64
Paragraph- Paragraph text
- The principle of legality is enshrined in article 15 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provides that no one is to be held guilty of any criminal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a criminal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. In accordance with the principle of legality, all legislation must be clearly defined, determinable and non-retrospective. Any law that fails to meet this basic criterion does not comply with the legality principle. Laws must give fair warnings to citizens of the nature of the conduct declared to constitute a criminal or civil offence. Furthermore, in the definition of an offence, the law must stipulate achievable limits on conduct, so that individuals are able to adapt their behaviour within reasonable limits.
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
- Reference
- SR Human Rights Defenders, Report to the UNGA (2012), A/67/292, para. 64.
- Paragraph number
- 64
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Date added
104 relationships, 104 entities