What international treaties are relevant to family engagement policies and practices? The International Bill of Human Rights (Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2011), which consists of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant on Economic,Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR, 1966), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, 1966), and its two Optional Protocols, are important backdrops to human rights. The Universal Declaration (1948, Article 16), which is not binding on national governments, states that the family is “the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state.”Parents’rights in the Universal Declaration include the right to have a family and to decide on their child’s education. The Universal Declaration identifies family’s rights, such as to an adequate living standard.The Universal Declaration does not separately provide for children’s rights. Nevertheless, in that children are human, they are entitled to those rights enunciated in the Universal Declaration, which include the rights to privacy (Article 12), to participate in cultural life and scientific progress (Article 27), to information (Article 19), and to express views (Article 19). This declaration does not include some rights, such as the right to representation.

dOES THIS EXPLAIN THIS QUESTION?: How do international treaties differ from international organizations?

1 answer

The provided text discusses the International Bill of Human Rights and its components, emphasizing the protection of family rights and related issues. However, it does not directly answer the question of how international treaties differ from international organizations.

To clarify:

  1. International Treaties: These are formal agreements between countries that are legally binding under international law. Treaties can cover a range of topics, including human rights, trade, environmental issues, etc. They require negotiation and must be ratified by the participating states. Examples include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.

  2. International Organizations: These are entities created by states to foster cooperation on specific issues. They can facilitate the discussion, development, and implementation of treaties but are not themselves binding agreements. Examples include the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization. International organizations may promote treaty adherence, provide support, and act as a forum for dialogue but do not have the legal force of treaties.

In summary, international treaties are binding legal agreements between countries, while international organizations are bodies established to facilitate cooperation and dialogue but do not carry the same legal weight.