Key Instruments

This page provides links to international and regional human rights instruments most relevant to health.

International human rights treaties are binding on governments that ratify them. Declarations are non-binding, although many norms and standards enshrined therein reflect principles which are binding in customary international law. United Nations conferences generate non-binding consensual policy documents, such as declarations and programmes of action.

• International treaties and conventions
• International declarations, norms and standards
• Regional instruments
• International conference documents