Project for Global Democracy and Human Rights

International Bills of Rights

Let me add that a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government would refuse, or rest on inference
—Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 December 1787

Absolute national sovereignty yields to the advance of international human rights law

Why human rights treaties are important

The Global Bill of Rights:

The European Bill of Rights:

The Inter-American Bill of Rights:

Country Issues

    Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: its “notwithstanding” clause (Section 33) allows Parliament and the provincial legislatures to suspend fundamental human rights that should never be suspended, such as the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment

© 1996, 1999 Andrew Reding, Project Director and Senior Fellow, World Policy Institute


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