International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

 

Article 19

1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.

2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall
include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all
kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in
the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.

3. The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article
carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be
subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are
provided by law and are necessary:

(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others;

(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre
public), or of public health or morals.

Article 20

1. Any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law.

2. Any Advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes
incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by
law.

Article 21

The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be
placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity
with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the
interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre
public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the
rights and freedoms of others.

Article 22

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others,
including the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his
interests.

2. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than
those which are prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic
society in the interests of national security or public safety, public
order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the
protection of the rights and freedoms of others. This article shall not
prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on members of the armed
forces and of the police in their exercise of this right.

3. Nothing in this article shall authorize States Parties to the
International Labour Organisation Convention of 1948 concerning Freedom of
Association and Protection of the Right to Organize to take legislative
measures which would prejudice, or to apply the law in such a manner as to
prejudice, the guarantees provided for in that Convention.

Article 23

1. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is
entitled to protection by society and the State.

2. The right of men and women of marriageable age to marry and to found a
family shall be recognized.

3. No marriage shall be entered into without the free and full consent of
the intending spouses.

4. States Parties to the present Covenant shall take appropriate steps to
ensure equality of rights and responsibilities of spouses as to marriage,
during marriage and at its dissolution. In the case of dissolution,
provision shall be made for the necessary protection of any children.

Article 24

1. Every child shall have, without any discrimination as to race, colour
sex, language, religion, national or social origin, property or birth, the
right to such measures of protection as are required by his status as a
minor, on the part of his family, society and the State.

2. Every child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have a
name.

3. Every child has the right to acquire a nationality.

Article 25

Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the
distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:

(a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through
freely chosen representatives;

(b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall
be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret
ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;

(c) To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in
his country .

Article 26

All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any
discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law
shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and
effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race,
colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or
social origin, property, birth or other status.

Article 27

In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist
persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in
community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own
culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own
language.

PART IV

Article 28

1. There shall be established a Human Rights Committee (hereafter referred
to in the present Covenant as the Committee). It shall consist of eighteen
members and shall carry out the functions hereinafter provided.

2. The Committee shall be composed of nationals of the States Parties to
the present Covenant who shall be persons of high moral character and
recognized competence in the field of human rights, consideration being
given to the usefulness of the participation of some persons having legal
experience.

3. The members of the Committee shall be elected and shall serve in their
personal capacity.

Article 29

1. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a
list of persons possessing the qualifications prescribed in article 28 and
nominated for the purpose by the States Parties to the present Covenant.

2. Each State Party to the present Covenant may nominate not more than two
persons. These persons shall be nationals of the nominating State.

3. A person shall be eligible for renomination.

 

Author: international

Mentioned in these Entries

Advocacy, Human Rights Committee, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, country.