Database • Plan International - Girls' Rights Platform - Girls' rights are human rights: Positioning girls at the heart of the international agenda

Selected groups of defenders at risk: journalists and media workers, defenders working on land and environment issues; and youth and student defenders 2012, para. 93

Paragraph text: Article 2 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 2 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provide for the universality of human rights and the equality of all human beings. Everyone is entitled to the rights provided for in these human rights instruments without discrimination.

Topic(s)

Person(s) affected

Paragraph

Paragraph text: The principles of equality and non-discrimination are the foundations of international human rights and, as such, are enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In line with both, all States parties have an obligation to guarantee that all rights are exercised without discrimination of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Topic(s)

Person(s) affected

Paragraph

Paragraph text: The two International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and on Civil and Political Rights share a common article 1 which provides, inter alia, that "all peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence".

Topic(s)

Person(s) affected

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.

Topic(s)

Person(s) affected

Paragraph

4 shown of 4 entities