The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the UN’s most comprehensive list of human rights. As declarations are not legally binding, Australia has adopted a number of treaties to enforce the rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights sets out many rights including the right to housing, to a fair wage, to health care, to free primary education and to express your culture.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights sets out many rights including the right to vote, freedom of thought, freedom of religion, a prohibition on slavery and the right to fair trial.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women sets out a range of rights for women. It provides a comprehensive overview of and action plan to help governments achieve substantive equality for women.
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination prohibits race-based discrimination and provides a comprehensive action plan for governments to bring an end to discrimination based on race, culture and ethnicity.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out a range of rights for children. It requires constant observation of the best interests of the child. It has two Optional Protocols, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, both to which Australia is a party.
The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment aims to end torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment. It mainly focuses on those actions committed by State officials. It also prohibits countries from returning anyone to a country where they might be tortured.
The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families offsets out rights for migrant workers and their families. It provides a comprehensive definition of different types of migrant workers and the types of protections a State party is obliged to afford them. Australia is not a party to this treaty.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides a comprehensive list of rights for people with a disability and the actions the State party should take to realise them. Adopted in 2006, this is the newest UN treaty. Australia became a party to this convention on 16 August 2008.
The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance is one of the principle human rights treaties. Australia is not a party.