Core Elements of Human Rights Charters

This document provides an overview of the core elements of existing human rights charters, including any limitations, and the mechanisms provided for enforcement and dispute resolution. The overview covers civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; and solidarity rights, along with the limitations on these rights that are commonly exercised in one of two ways: 1) as a power included in the right, for states to impose certain limitations on the scope of the right, or 2) to incorporate a general derogation provision which allows some rights to be suspended entirely. The report then highlights common dispute resolution mechanisms, which it divides into the following three categories: reporting procedures, conciliation procedures, and adjudication procedures. Finally, the report canvasses the range of administrative provisions included within human rights charters to ensure their smooth operation. These include, among other things: the charter's relationship to other human rights frameworks, the procedures for amending the charter or adopting additional protocols, and the rules of procedure to be adopted by any enforcement body.