International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 3.
Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes:
Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16
December 1966
entry into force 23 March 1976, in accordance with Article 49
Preamble
The States Parties to the present Covenant,
Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the
inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of
freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Recognizing that these rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person,
Recognizing that, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ideal of free human beings enjoying
civil and political freedom and freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby
everyone may enjoy his civil and political rights, as well as his economic, social and cultural rights,
Considering the obligation of States under the Charter of the United Nations to promote universal respect for, and
observance of, human rights and freedoms,
Realizing that the individual, having duties to other individuals and to the community to which he belongs, is under a
responsibility to strive for the promotion and observance of the rights recognized in the present Covenant,
Agree upon the following articles:
PART I
Article 1
1. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and
freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
2. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any
obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and
international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence.
3. The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-
Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that
right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
PART II
Article 2
1. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory
and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as
race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
2. Where not already provided for by existing legislative or other measures, each State Party to the present Covenant
undertakes to take the necessary steps, in accordance with its constitutional processes and with the provisions of the
present Covenant, to adopt such laws or other measures as may be necessary to give effect to the rights recognized in
the present Covenant.
(a) To ensure that any person whose rights or freedoms as herein recognized are violated shall have an effective remedy,
notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity;
(b) To ensure that any person claiming such a remedy shall have his right thereto determined by competent judicial,
administrative or legislative authorities, or by any other competent authority provided for by the legal system of the
State, and to develop the possibilities of judicial remedy;
(c) To ensure that the competent authorities shall enforce such remedies when granted.
Article 3
The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment
of all civil and political rights set forth in the present Covenant.
Article 4
1 . In time of public emergency which threatens the life of the nation and the existence of which is officially proclaimed,
the States Parties to the present Covenant may take measures derogating from their obligations under the present
Covenant to the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation, provided that such measures are not
inconsistent with their other obligations under international law and do not involve discrimination solely on the ground
of race, colour, sex, language, religion or social origin.
2. No derogation from articles 6, 7, 8 (paragraphs I and 2), 11, 15, 16 and 18 may be made under this provision.
3. Any State Party to the present Covenant availing itself of the right of derogation shall immediately inform the other
States Parties to the present Covenant, through the intermediary of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, of the
provisions from which it has derogated and of the reasons by which it was actuated. A further communication shall be
made, through the same intermediary, on the date on which it terminates such derogation.
Article 5
1. Nothing in the present Covenant may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage
in any activity or perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms recognized herein or at
their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for in the present Covenant.
2. There shall be no restriction upon or derogation from any of the fundamental human rights recognized or existing in
any State Party to the present Covenant pursuant to law, conventions, regulations or custom on the pretext that the
present Covenant does not recognize such rights or that it recognizes them to a lesser extent.
PART III
Article 6
1. Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily
deprived of his life.
2. In countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentence of death may be imposed only for the most serious
crimes in accordance with the law in force at the time of the commission of the crime and not contrary to the provisions
of the present Covenant and to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This
penalty can only be carried out pursuant to a final judgement rendered by a competent court.
3. When deprivation of life constitutes the crime of genocide, it is understood that nothing in this article shall authorize
any State Party to the present Covenant to derogate in any way from any obligation assumed under the provisions of
the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
4. Anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to seek pardon or commutation of the sentence. Amnesty, pardon or
commutation of the sentence of death may be granted in all cases.
5. Sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below eighteen years of age and shall not
be carried out on pregnant women.
6. Nothing in this article shall be invoked to delay or to prevent the abolition of capital punishment by any State Party
to the present Covenant.
Article 7
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one
shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.
Article 8
1. No one shall be held in slavery; slavery and the slave-trade in all their forms shall be prohibited.
2. No one shall be held in servitude.
3.
(a) No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour;
(b) Paragraph 3 (a) shall not be held to preclude, in countries where imprisonment with hard labour may be imposed as
a punishment for a crime, the performance of hard labour in pursuance of a sentence to such punishment by a
competent court;
(c) For the purpose of this paragraph the term "forced or compulsory labour" shall not include:
(i) Any work or service, not referred to in subparagraph (b), normally required of a person who is under detention in
consequence of a lawful order of a court, or of a person during conditional release from such detention;
(ii) Any service of a military character and, in countries where conscientious objection is recognized, any national service
required by law of conscientious objectors;
(iii) Any service exacted in cases of emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-being of the community;
(iv) Any work or service which forms part of normal civil obligations.
Article 9
1. Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.
No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established
by law.
2. Anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his arrest and shall be promptly
informed of any charges against him.
3. Anyone arrested or detained on a criminal charge shall be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorized
by law to exercise judicial power and shall be entitled to trial within a reasonable time or to release. It shall not be the
general rule that persons awaiting trial shall be detained in custody, but release may be subject to guarantees to appear
for trial, at any other stage of the judicial proceedings, and, should occasion arise, for execution of the judgement.
4. Anyone who is deprived of his liberty by arrest or detention shall be entitled to take proceedings before a court, in
order that that court may decide without delay on the lawfulness of his detention and order his release if the detention
is not lawful.
5. Anyone who has been the victim of unlawful arrest or detention shall have an enforceable right to compensation.
Article 10
1. All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the
human person.
2.
(a) Accused persons shall, save in exceptional circumstances, be segregated from convicted persons and shall be subject
to separate treatment appropriate to their status as unconvicted persons;
(b) Accused juvenile persons shall be separated from adults and brought as speedily as possible for adjudication.
3. The penitentiary system shall comprise treatment of prisoners the essential aim of which shall be their reformation
and social rehabilitation. Juvenile offenders shall be segregated from adults and be accorded treatment appropriate to
their age and legal status.
Article 11
No one shall be imprisoned merely on the ground of inability to fulfil a contractual obligation.
Article 12
1. Everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement and
freedom to choose his residence.
2. Everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own.
3. The above-mentioned rights shall not be subject to any restrictions except those which are provided by law, are
necessary to protect national security, public order (ordre public), public health or morals or the rights and freedoms of
others, and are consistent with the other rights recognized in the present Covenant.
4. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his own country.
Article 13
An alien lawfully in the territory of a State Party to the present Covenant may be expelled therefrom only in pursuance
of a decision reached in accordance with law and shall, except where compelling reasons of national security otherwise
require, be allowed to submit the reasons against his expulsion and to have his case reviewed by, and be represented
for the purpose before, the competent authority or a person or persons especially designated by the competent
authority.
Article 14
1. All persons shall be equal before the courts and tribunals. In the determination of any criminal charge against him,
or of his rights and obligations in a suit at law, everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent,
independent and impartial tribunal established by law. The press and the public may be excluded from all or part of a
trial for reasons of morals, public order (ordre public) or national security in a democratic society, or when the interest
of the private lives of the parties so requires, or to the extent strictly necessary in the opinion of the court in special
circumstances where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice; but any judgement rendered in a criminal case
or in a suit at law shall be made public except where the interest of juvenile persons otherwise requires or the
proceedings concern matrimonial disputes or the guardianship of children.
2. Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according
to law.
3. In the determination of any criminal charge against him, everyone shall be entitled to the following minimum
guarantees, in full equality: (a) To be informed promptly and in detail in a language which he understands of the nature
and cause of the charge against him;
(b) To have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence and to communicate with counsel of his own
choosing;
(c) To be tried without undue delay;
(d) To be tried in his presence, and to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing; to be
informed, if he does not have legal assistance, of this right; and to have legal assistance assigned to him, in any case
where the interests of justice so require, and without payment by him in any such case if he does not have sufficient
means to pay for it;
(e) To examine, or have examined, the witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance and examination of
witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him;
(f) To have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court;
(g) Not to be compelled to testify against himself or to confess guilt.
4. In the case of juvenile persons, the procedure shall be such as will take account of their age and the desirability of
promoting their rehabilitation.
5. Everyone convicted of a crime shall have the right to his conviction and sentence being reviewed by a higher tribunal
according to law.
6. When a person has by a final decision been convicted of a criminal offence and when subsequently his conviction has
been reversed or he has been pardoned on the ground that a new or newly discovered fact shows conclusively that
there has been a miscarriage of justice, the person who has suffered punishment as a result of such conviction shall be
compensated according to law, unless it is proved that the non-disclosure of the unknown fact in time is wholly or partly
attributable to him.
7. No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence for which he has already been finally convicted or
acquitted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of each country.
Article 15
1 . No one shall be held guilty of any criminal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a
criminal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty
be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time when the criminal offence was committed. If, subsequent to
the commission of the offence, provision is made by law for the imposition of the lighter penalty, the offender shall
benefit thereby.
2. Nothing in this article shall prejudice the trial and punishment of any person for any act or omission which, at the
time when it was committed, was criminal according to the general principles of law recognized by the community of
nations.
Article 16
Everyone shall have the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Article 17
1. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor
to unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation.
2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 18
1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have
or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public
or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his
choice.
3. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are
necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
4. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable,
legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.
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.
Article 30
1. The initial election shall be held no later than six months after the date of the entry into force of the present Covenant.
2. At least four months before the date of each election to the Committee, other than an election to fill a vacancy
declared in accordance with article 34, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address a written invitation to
the States Parties to the present Covenant to submit their nominations for membership of the Committee within three
months.
3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall prepare a list in alphabetical order of all the persons thus
nominated, with an indication of the States Parties which have nominated them, and shall submit it to the States Parties
to the present Covenant no later than one month before the date of each election.
4. Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at a meeting of the States Parties to the present Covenant
convened by the Secretary General of the United Nations at the Headquarters of the United Nations. At that meeting,
for which two thirds of the States Parties to the present Covenant shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the
Committee shall be those nominees who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of
the representatives of States Parties present and voting.
Article 31
1. The Committee may not include more than one national of the same State.
2. In the election of the Committee, consideration shall be given to equitable geographical distribution of membership
and to the representation of the different forms of civilization and of the principal legal systems.
Article 32
1. The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years. They shall be eligible for re-election if
renominated. However, the terms of nine of the members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two
years; immediately after the first election, the names of these nine members shall be chosen by lot by the Chairman of
the meeting referred to in article 30, paragraph 4.
2. Elections at the expiry of office shall be held in accordance with the preceding articles of this part of the present
Covenant.
Article 33
1. If, in the unanimous opinion of the other members, a member of the Committee has ceased to carry out his functions
for any cause other than absence of a temporary character, the Chairman of the Committee shall notify the Secretary-
General of the United Nations, who shall then declare the seat of that member to be vacant.
2. In the event of the death or the resignation of a member of the Committee, the Chairman shall immediately notify
the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall declare the seat vacant from the date of death or the date on
which the resignation takes effect.
Article 34
1. When a vacancy is declared in accordance with article 33 and if the term of office of the member to be replaced does
not expire within six months of the declaration of the vacancy, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall notify
each of the States Parties to the present Covenant, which may within two months submit nominations in accordance
with article 29 for the purpose of filling the vacancy.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall prepare a list in alphabetical order of the persons thus nominated
and shall submit it to the States Parties to the present Covenant. The election to fill the vacancy shall then take place in
accordance with the relevant provisions of this part of the present Covenant.
3. A member of the Committee elected to fill a vacancy declared in accordance with article 33 shall hold office for the
remainder of the term of the member who vacated the seat on the Committee under the provisions of that article.
Article 35
The members of the Committee shall, with the approval of the General Assembly of the United Nations, receive
emoluments from United Nations resources on such terms and conditions as the General Assembly may decide, having
regard to the importance of the Committee's responsibilities.
Article 36
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary staff and facilities for the effective performance
of the functions of the Committee under the present Covenant.
Article 37
1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene the initial meeting of the Committee at the Headquarters
of the United Nations.
2. After its initial meeting, the Committee shall meet at such times as shall be provided in its rules of procedure.
3. The Committee shall normally meet at the Headquarters of the United Nations or at the United Nations Office at
Geneva.
Article 38
Every member of the Committee shall, before taking up his duties, make a solemn declaration in open committee that
he will perform his functions impartially and conscientiously.
Article 39
1. The Committee shall elect its officers for a term of two years. They may be re-elected.
2. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure, but these rules shall provide, inter alia, that:
(a) Twelve members shall constitute a quorum;
(b) Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a majority vote of the members present.
Article 40
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to submit reports on the measures they have adopted which
give effect to the rights recognized herein and on the progress made in the enjoyment of those rights: (a) Within one
year of the entry into force of the present Covenant for the States Parties concerned;
(b) Thereafter whenever the Committee so requests.
2. All reports shall be submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit them to the
Committee for consideration. Reports shall indicate the factors and difficulties, if any, affecting the implementation of
the present Covenant.
3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations may, after consultation with the Committee, transmit to the specialized
agencies concerned copies of such parts of the reports as may fall within their field of competence.
4. The Committee shall study the reports submitted by the States Parties to the present Covenant. It shall transmit its
reports, and such general comments as it may consider appropriate, to the States Parties. The Committee may also
transmit to the Economic and Social Council these comments along with the copies of the reports it has received from
States Parties to the present Covenant.
5. The States Parties to the present Covenant may submit to the Committee observations on any comments that may
be made in accordance with paragraph 4 of this article.
Article 41
1. A State Party to the present Covenant may at any time declare under this article that it recognizes the competence
of the Committee to receive and consider communications to the effect that a State Party claims that another State
Party is not fulfilling its obligations under the present Covenant. Communications under this article may be received
and considered only if submitted by a State Party which has made a declaration recognizing in regard to itself the
competence of the Committee. No communication shall be received by the Committee if it concerns a State Party which
has not made such a declaration. Communications received under this article shall be dealt with in accordance with the
following procedure:
(a) If a State Party to the present Covenant considers that another State Party is not giving effect to the provisions of
the present Covenant, it may, by written communication, bring the matter to the attention of that State Party. Within
three months after the receipt of the communication the receiving State shall afford the State which sent the
communication an explanation, or any other statement in writing clarifying the matter which should include, to the
extent possible and pertinent, reference to domestic procedures and remedies taken, pending, or available in the
matter;
(b) If the matter is not adjusted to the satisfaction of both States Parties concerned within six months after the receipt
by the receiving State of the initial communication, either State shall have the right to refer the matter to the
Committee, by notice given to the Committee and to the other State;
(c) The Committee shall deal with a matter referred to it only after it has ascertained that all available domestic remedies
have been invoked and exhausted in the matter, in conformity with the generally recognized principles of international
law. This shall not be the rule where the application of the remedies is unreasonably prolonged;
(d) The Committee shall hold closed meetings when examining communications under this article;
(e) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (c), the Committee shall make available its good offices to the States
Parties concerned with a view to a friendly solution of the matter on the basis of respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms as recognized in the present Covenant;
(f) In any matter referred to it, the Committee may call upon the States Parties concerned, referred to in subparagraph
(b), to supply any relevant information;
(g) The States Parties concerned, referred to in subparagraph (b), shall have the right to be represented when the matter
is being considered in the Committee and to make submissions orally and/or in writing;
(h) The Committee shall, within twelve months after the date of receipt of notice under subparagraph (b), submit a
report:
(i) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (e) is reached, the Committee shall confine its report to a brief
statement of the facts and of the solution reached;
(ii) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (e) is not reached, the Committee shall confine its report to a brief
statement of the facts; the written submissions and record of the oral submissions made by the States Parties concerned
shall be attached to the report. In every matter, the report shall be communicated to the States Parties concerned.
2. The provisions of this article shall come into force when ten States Parties to the present Covenant have made
declarations under paragraph I of this article. Such declarations shall be deposited by the States Parties with the
Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit copies thereof to the other States Parties. A declaration
may be withdrawn at any time by notification to the Secretary-General. Such a withdrawal shall not prejudice the
consideration of any matter which is the subject of a communication already transmitted under this article; no further
communication by any State Party shall be received after the notification of withdrawal of the declaration has been
received by the Secretary-General, unless the State Party concerned has made a new declaration.
Article 42
1.
(a) If a matter referred to the Committee in accordance with article 41 is not resolved to the satisfaction of the States
Parties concerned, the Committee may, with the prior consent of the States Parties concerned, appoint an ad hoc
Conciliation Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission). The good offices of the Commission shall be made
available to the States Parties concerned with a view to an amicable solution of the matter on the basis of respect for
the present Covenant;
(b) The Commission shall consist of five persons acceptable to the States Parties concerned. If the States Parties
concerned fail to reach agreement within three months on all or part of the composition of the Commission, the
members of the Commission concerning whom no agreement has been reached shall be elected by secret ballot by a
two-thirds majority vote of the Committee from among its members.
2. The members of the Commission shall serve in their personal capacity. They shall not be nationals of the States Parties
concerned, or of a State not Party to the present Covenant, or of a State Party which has not made a declaration under
article 41.
3. The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and adopt its own rules of procedure.
4. The meetings of the Commission shall normally be held at the Headquarters of the United Nations or at the United
Nations Office at Geneva. However, they may be held at such other convenient places as the Commission may
determine in consultation with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the States Parties concerned.
5. The secretariat provided in accordance with article 36 shall also service the commissions appointed under this article.
6. The information received and collated by the Committee shall be made available to the Commission and the
Commission may call upon the States Parties concerned to supply any other relevant information.
7. When the Commission has fully considered the matter, but in any event not later than twelve months after having
been seized of the matter, it shall submit to the Chairman of the Committee a report for communication to the States
Parties concerned:
(a) If the Commission is unable to complete its consideration of the matter within twelve months, it shall confine its
report to a brief statement of the status of its consideration of the matter;
(b) If an amicable solution to the matter on tie basis of respect for human rights as recognized in the present Covenant
is reached, the Commission shall confine its report to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached;
(c) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (b) is not reached, the Commission's report shall embody its findings
on all questions of fact relevant to the issues between the States Parties concerned, and its views on the possibilities of
an amicable solution of the matter. This report shall also contain the written submissions and a record of the oral
submissions made by the States Parties concerned;
(d) If the Commission's report is submitted under subparagraph (c), the States Parties concerned shall, within three
months of the receipt of the report, notify the Chairman of the Committee whether or not they accept the contents of
the report of the Commission.
8. The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Committee under article 41.
9. The States Parties concerned shall share equally all the expenses of the members of the Commission in accordance
with estimates to be provided by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
10. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be empowered to pay the expenses of the members of the
Commission, if necessary, before reimbursement by the States Parties concerned, in accordance with paragraph 9 of
this article.
Article 43
The members of the Committee, and of the ad hoc conciliation commissions which may be appointed under article 42,
shall be entitled to the facilities, privileges and immunities of experts on mission for the United Nations as laid down in
the relevant sections of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
Article 44
The provisions for the implementation of the present Covenant shall apply without prejudice to the procedures
prescribed in the field of human rights by or under the constituent instruments and the conventions of the United
Nations and of the specialized agencies and shall not prevent the States Parties to the present Covenant from having
recourse to other procedures for settling a dispute in accordance with general or special international agreements in
force between them.
Article 45
The Committee shall submit to the General Assembly of the United Nations, through the Economic and Social Council,
an annual report on its activities.
PART V
Article 46
Nothing in the present Covenant shall be interpreted as impairing the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations
and of the constitutions of the specialized agencies which define the respective responsibilities of the various organs of
the United Nations and of the specialized agencies in regard to the matters dealt with in the present Covenant.
Article 47
Nothing in the present Covenant shall be interpreted as impairing the inherent right of all peoples to enjoy and utilize (a) Signatures, ratifications and accessions under article 48;
fully and freely their natural wealth and resources.
(b) The date of the entry into force of the present Covenant under article 49 and the date of the entry into force of any
PART VI amendments under article 51.

Article 48 Article 53

1. The present Covenant is open for signature by any State Member of the United Nations or member of any of its
specialized agencies, by any State Party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice, and by any other State which
has been invited by the General Assembly of the United Nations to become a Party to the present Covenant.
2. The present Covenant is subject to ratification. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-
General of the United Nations.
1. The present Covenant, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall
be deposited in the archives of the United Nations.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit certified copies of the present Covenant to all States
referred to in article 48.

3. The present Covenant shall be open to accession by any State referred to in paragraph 1 of this article.

4. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United
Nations.

5. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States which have signed this Covenant or acceded to it
of the deposit of each instrument of ratification or accession.

Article 49

1. The present Covenant shall enter into force three months after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of
the United Nations of the thirty-fifth instrument of ratification or instrument of accession.

2. For each State ratifying the present Covenant or acceding to it after the deposit of the thirty-fifth instrument of
ratification or instrument of accession, the present Covenant shall enter into force three months after the date of the
deposit of its own instrument of ratification or instrument of accession.

Article 50

The provisions of the present Covenant shall extend to all parts of federal States without any limitations or exceptions.

Article 51

1. Any State Party to the present Covenant may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the
United Nations. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall thereupon communicate any proposed amendments
to the States Parties to the present Covenant with a request that they notify him whether they favour a conference of
States Parties for the purpose of considering and voting upon the proposals. In the event that at least one third of the
States Parties favours such a conference, the Secretary-General shall convene the conference under the auspices of the
United Nations. Any amendment adopted by a majority of the States Parties present and voting at the conference shall
be submitted to the General Assembly of the United Nations for approval.

2. Amendments shall come into force when they have been approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations
and accepted by a two-thirds majority of the States Parties to the present Covenant in accordance with their respective
constitutional processes. 3. When amendments come into force, they shall be binding on those States Parties which
have accepted them, other States Parties still being bound by the provisions of the present Covenant and any earlier
amendment which they have accepted.

Article 52

1. Irrespective of the notifications made under article 48, paragraph 5, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall
inform all States referred to in paragraph I of the same article of the following particulars:
 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16
December 1966
entry into force 3 January 1976, in accordance with article 27
Preamble
The States Parties to the present Covenant,
Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the
inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of
freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Recognizing that these rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person,
Recognizing that, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ideal of free human beings enjoying
freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his economic,
social and cultural rights, as well as his civil and political rights,
Considering the obligation of States under the Charter of the United Nations to promote universal respect for, and
observance of, human rights and freedoms,
Realizing that the individual, having duties to other individuals and to the community to which he belongs, is under a
responsibility to strive for the promotion and observance of the rights recognized in the present Covenant,
Agree upon the following articles:
PART I
Article 1
1. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and
freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
2. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any
obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and
international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence.
3. The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-
Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that
right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
PART II
Article 2
1. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to take steps, individually and through international assistance
and co-operation, especially economic and technical, to the maximum of its available resources, with a view to achieving
progressively the full realization of the rights recognized in the present Covenant by all appropriate means, including
particularly the adoption of legislative measures.
2. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to guarantee that the rights enunciated in the present Covenant
will be exercised without discrimination of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion,
national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
3. Developing countries, with due regard to human rights and their national economy, may determine to what extent
they would guarantee the economic rights recognized in the present Covenant to non-nationals.
Article 3
The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment
of all economic, social and cultural rights set forth in the present Covenant.
Article 4
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, in the enjoyment of those rights provided by the State in
conformity with the present Covenant, the State may subject such rights only to such limitations as are determined by
law only in so far as this may be compatible with the nature of these rights and solely for the purpose of promoting the
general welfare in a democratic society.
Article 5
1. Nothing in the present Covenant may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage
in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights or freedoms recognized herein, or at
their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for in the present Covenant.
2. No restriction upon or derogation from any of the fundamental human rights recognized or existing in any country in
virtue of law, conventions, regulations or custom shall be admitted on the pretext that the present Covenant does not
recognize such rights or that it recognizes them to a lesser extent.
PART III
Article 6
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right to work, which includes the right of everyone to the
opportunity to gain his living by work which he freely chooses or accepts, and will take appropriate steps to safeguard
this right.
2. The steps to be taken by a State Party to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include
technical and vocational guidance and training programmes, policies and techniques to achieve steady economic, social
and cultural development and full and productive employment under conditions safeguarding fundamental political
and economic freedoms to the individual.
Article 7
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of just and favourable
conditions of work which ensure, in particular:
(a) Remuneration which provides all workers, as a minimum, with:
(i) Fair wages and equal remuneration for work of equal value without distinction of any kind, in particular women being
guaranteed conditions of work not inferior to those enjoyed by men, with equal pay for equal work;
(ii) A decent living for themselves and their families in accordance with the provisions of the present Covenant;
(b) Safe and healthy working conditions;
(c) Equal opportunity for everyone to be promoted in his employment to an appropriate higher level, subject to no
considerations other than those of seniority and competence;
(d ) Rest, leisure and reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay, as well as remuneration for
public holidays
Article 8
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure:
(a) The right of everyone to form trade unions and join the trade union of his choice, subject only to the rules of the
organization concerned, for the promotion and protection of his economic and social interests. No restrictions may be
placed on the exercise of this right other than those prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society
in the interests of national security or public order or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others;
(b) The right of trade unions to establish national federations or confederations and the right of the latter to form or
join international trade-union organizations;
(c) The right of trade unions to function freely subject to no limitations other than those prescribed by law and which
are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public order or for the protection of the
rights and freedoms of others;
(d) The right to strike, provided that it is exercised in conformity with the laws of the particular country.
2. This article shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on the exercise of these rights by members of the
armed forces or of the police or of the administration of the State.
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 apply the law in such a manner as would prejudice, the guarantees provided for in that Convention.
Article 9
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to social security, including social insurance.
Article 10
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that:
1. The widest possible protection and assistance should be accorded to the family, which is the natural and fundamental
group unit of society, particularly for its establishment and while it is responsible for the care and education of
dependent children. Marriage must be entered into with the free consent of the intending spouses.
2. Special protection should be accorded to mothers during a reasonable period before and after childbirth. During such
period working mothers should be accorded paid leave or leave with adequate social security benefits.
3. Special measures of protection and assistance should be taken on behalf of all children and young persons without
any discrimination for reasons of parentage or other conditions. Children and young persons should be protected from
economic and social exploitation. Their employment in work harmful to their morals or health or dangerous to life or
likely to hamper their normal development should be punishable by law. States should also set age limits below which
the paid employment of child labour should be prohibited and punishable by law.
Article 11
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for
himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living
conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect
the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent.
2. The States Parties to the present Covenant, recognizing the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger,
shall take, individually and through international co-operation, the measures, including specific programmes, which are
needed:
(a) To improve methods of production, conservation and distribution of food by making full use of technical and
scientific knowledge, by disseminating knowledge of the principles of nutrition and by developing or reforming agrarian
systems in such a way as to achieve the most efficient development and utilization of natural resources;
(b) Taking into account the problems of both food-importing and food-exporting countries, to ensure an equitable
distribution of world food supplies in relation to need.
Article 12
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health.
2. The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall
include those necessary for:
(a) The provision for the reduction of the stillbirth-rate and of infant mortality and for the healthy development of the
child;
(b) The improvement of all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene;
(c) The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases;
(d) The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness.
Article 13
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to education. They agree that education
shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity, and shall strengthen the
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They further agree that education shall enable all persons to
participate effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and all
racial, ethnic or religious groups, and further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
2. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, with a view to achieving the full realization of this right:
(a) Primary education shall be compulsory and available free to all;
(b) Secondary education in its different forms, including technical and vocational secondary education, shall be made
generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction
of free education;
(c) Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and
in particular by the progressive introduction of free education;
(d) Fundamental education shall be encouraged or intensified as far as possible for those persons who have not received
or completed the whole period of their primary education;
(e) The development of a system of schools at all levels shall be actively pursued, an adequate fellowship system shall
be established, and the material conditions of teaching staff shall be continuously improved.
3. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable,
legal guardians to choose for their children schools, other than those established by the public authorities, which
conform to such minimum educational standards as may be laid down or approved by the State and to ensure the
religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.
4. No part of this article shall be construed so as to interfere with the liberty of individuals and bodies to establish and
direct educational institutions, subject always to the observance of the principles set forth in paragraph I of this article
and to the requirement that the education given in such institutions shall conform to such minimum standards as may
be laid down by the State.
Article 14
Each State Party to the present Covenant which, at the time of becoming a Party, has not been able to secure in its
metropolitan territory or other territories under its jurisdiction compulsory primary education, free of charge,
undertakes, within two years, to work out and adopt a detailed plan of action for the progressive implementation,
within a reasonable number of years, to be fixed in the plan, of the principle of compulsory education free of charge for
all.
Article 15
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone:
(a) To take part in cultural life;
(b) To enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications;
(c) To benefit from the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic
production of which he is the author.
2. The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall
include those necessary for the conservation, the development and the diffusion of science and culture.
3. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to respect the freedom indispensable for scientific research
and creative activity.
4. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the benefits to be derived from the encouragement and
development of international contacts and co-operation in the scientific and cultural fields.
PART IV
Article 16
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to submit in conformity with this part of the Covenant reports
on the measures which they have adopted and the progress made in achieving the observance of the rights recognized
herein.
2.
(a) All reports shall be submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit copies to the
Economic and Social Council for consideration in accordance with the provisions of the present Covenant;
(b) The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall also transmit to the specialized agencies copies of the reports, or
any relevant parts therefrom, from States Parties to the present Covenant which are also members of these specialized
agencies in so far as these reports, or parts therefrom, relate to any matters which fall within the responsibilities of the
said agencies in accordance with their constitutional instruments.
Article 17
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant shall furnish their reports in stages, in accordance with a programme to competence, on the advisability of international measures likely to contribute to the effective progressive
be established by the Economic and Social Council within one year of the entry into force of the present Covenant after implementation of the present Covenant.
consultation with the States Parties and the specialized agencies concerned.
Article 23
2. Reports may indicate factors and difficulties affecting the degree of fulfilment of obligations under the present
The States Parties to the present Covenant agree that international action for the achievement of the rights recognized
Covenant.
in the present Covenant includes such methods as the conclusion of conventions, the adoption of recommendations,
3. Where relevant information has previously been furnished to the United Nations or to any specialized agency by any the furnishing of technical assistance and the holding of regional meetings and technical meetings for the purpose of
State Party to the present Covenant, it will not be necessary to reproduce that information, but a precise reference to consultation and study organized in conjunction with the Governments concerned.
the information so furnished will suffice.
Article 24
Article 18
Nothing in the present Covenant shall be interpreted as impairing the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations
Pursuant to its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations in the field of human rights and fundamental and of the constitutions of the specialized agencies which define the respective responsibilities of the various organs of
freedoms, the Economic and Social Council may make arrangements with the specialized agencies in respect of their the United Nations and of the specialized agencies in regard to the matters dealt with in the present Covenant.
reporting to it on the progress made in achieving the observance of the provisions of the present Covenant falling within
Article 25
the scope of their activities. These reports may include particulars of decisions and recommendations on such
implementation adopted by their competent organs. Nothing in the present Covenant shall be interpreted as impairing the inherent right of all peoples to enjoy and utilize
fully and freely their natural wealth and resources.
Article 19
PART V
The Economic and Social Council may transmit to the Commission on Human Rights for study and general
Article 26
recommendation or, as appropriate, for information the reports concerning human rights submitted by States in
1. The present Covenant is open for signature by any State Member of the United Nations or member of any of its
accordance with articles 16 and 17, and those concerning human rights submitted by the specialized agencies in
specialized agencies, by any State Party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice, and by any other State which
accordance with article 18.
has been invited by the General Assembly of the United Nations to become a party to the present Covenant.
Article 20
2. The present Covenant is subject to ratification. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-
The States Parties to the present Covenant and the specialized agencies concerned may submit comments to the General of the United Nations.
Economic and Social Council on any general recommendation under article 19 or reference to such general
3. The present Covenant shall be open to accession by any State referred to in paragraph 1 of this article.
recommendation in any report of the Commission on Human Rights or any documentation referred to therein.
4. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United
Article 21
Nations.
The Economic and Social Council may submit from time to time to the General Assembly reports with recommendations
5. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States which have signed the present Covenant or
of a general nature and a summary of the information received from the States Parties to the present Covenant and the
acceded to it of the deposit of each instrument of ratification or accession.
specialized agencies on the measures taken and the progress made in achieving general observance of the rights
recognized in the present Covenant. Article 27

Article 22 1. The present Covenant shall enter into force three months after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of
the United Nations of the thirty-fifth instrument of ratification or instrument of accession.
The Economic and Social Council may bring to the attention of other organs of the United Nations, their subsidiary
organs and specialized agencies concerned with furnishing technical assistance any matters arising out of the reports
referred to in this part of the present Covenant which may assist such bodies in deciding, each within its field of
2. For each State ratifying the present Covenant or acceding to it after the deposit of the thirty-fifth instrument of
ratification or instrument of accession, the present Covenant shall enter into force three months after the date of the
deposit of its own instrument of ratification or instrument of accession.

Article 28

The provisions of the present Covenant shall extend to all parts of federal States without any limitations or exceptions.

Article 29

1. Any State Party to the present Covenant may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the
United Nations. The Secretary-General shall thereupon communicate any proposed amendments to the States Parties
to the present Covenant with a request that they notify him whether they favour a conference of States Parties for the
purpose of considering and voting upon the proposals. In the event that at least one third of the States Parties favours
such a conference, the Secretary-General shall convene the conference under the auspices of the United Nations. Any
amendment adopted by a majority of the States Parties present and voting at the conference shall be submitted to the
General Assembly of the United Nations for approval.

2. Amendments shall come into force when they have been approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations
and accepted by a two-thirds majority of the States Parties to the present Covenant in accordance with their respective
constitutional processes.

3. When amendments come into force they shall be binding on those States Parties which have accepted them, other
States Parties still being bound by the provisions of the present Covenant and any earlier amendment which they have
accepted.

Article 30

Irrespective of the notifications made under article 26, paragraph 5, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall
inform all States referred to in paragraph I of the same article of the following particulars:

(a) Signatures, ratifications and accessions under article 26;

(b) The date of the entry into force of the present Covenant under article 27 and the date of the entry into force of any
amendments under article 29.

Article 31

1. The present Covenant, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall
be deposited in the archives of the United Nations.

2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit certified copies of the present Covenant to all States
referred to in article 26.
 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Adopted and opened for signature and ratification by General Assembly resolution 2106 (XX) of 21 December 1965
entry into force 4 January 1969, in accordance with Article 19
The States Parties to this Convention,
Considering that the Charter of the United Nations is based on the principles of the dignity and equality inherent in all
human beings, and that all Member States have pledged themselves to take joint and separate action, in co-operation
with the Organization, for the achievement of one of the purposes of the United Nations which is to promote and
encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction
as to race, sex, language or religion,
Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in
dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any
kind, in particular as to race, colour or national origin,
Considering that all human beings are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of the law against any
discrimination and against any incitement to discrimination,
Considering that the United Nations has condemned colonialism and all practices of segregation and discrimination
associated therewith, in whatever form and wherever they exist, and that the Declaration on the Granting of
Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples of 14 December 1960 (General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV)) has
affirmed and solemnly proclaimed the necessity of bringing them to a speedy and unconditional end,
Considering that the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of 20 November
1963 (General Assembly resolution 1904 (XVIII)) solemnly affirms the necessity of speedily eliminating racial
discrimination throughout the world in all its forms and manifestations and of securing understanding of and respect
for the dignity of the human person,
Convinced that any doctrine of superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally condemnable,
socially unjust and dangerous, and that there is no justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in practice,
anywhere,
Reaffirming that discrimination between human beings on the grounds of race, colour or ethnic origin is an obstacle to
friendly and peaceful relations among nations and is capable of disturbing peace and security among peoples and the
harmony of persons living side by side even within one and the same State,
Convinced that the existence of racial barriers is repugnant to the ideals of any human society,
Alarmed by manifestations of racial discrimination still in evidence in some areas of the world and by governmental
policies based on racial superiority or hatred, such as policies of apartheid, segregation or separation,
Resolved to adopt all necessary measures for speedily eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and
manifestations, and to prevent and combat racist doctrines and practices in order to promote understanding between
races and to build an international community free from all forms of racial segregation and racial discrimination,
Bearing in mind the Convention concerning Discrimination in respect of Employment and Occupation adopted by the
International Labour Organisation in 1958, and the Convention against Discrimination in Education adopted by the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1960,
Desiring to implement the principles embodied in the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Al l Forms of
Racial Discrimination and to secure the earliest adoption of practical measures to that end,
Have agreed as follows:
PART I
Article 1
1. In this Convention, the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference
based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the
recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political,
economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.
2. This Convention shall not apply to distinctions, exclusions, restrictions or preferences made by a State Party to this
Convention between citizens and non-citizens.
3. Nothing in this Convention may be interpreted as affecting in any way the legal provisions of States Parties concerning
nationality, citizenship or naturalization, provided that such provisions do not discriminate against any particular
nationality.
4. Special measures taken for the sole purpose of securing adequate advancement of certain racial or ethnic groups or
individuals requiring such protection as may be necessary in order to ensure such groups or individuals equal enjoyment
or exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms shall not be deemed racial discrimination, provided, however,
that such measures do not, as a consequence, lead to the maintenance of separate rights for different racial groups and
that they shall not be continued after the objectives for which they were taken have been achieved.
Article 2
1. States Parties condemn racial discrimination and undertake to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a
policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and promoting understanding among all races, and, to this end:
(a) Each State Party undertakes to engage in no act or practice of racial discrimination against persons, groups of persons
or institutions and to en sure that all public authorities and public institutions, national and local, shall act in conformity
with this obligation;
(b) Each State Party undertakes not to sponsor, defend or support racial discrimination by any persons or organizations;
(c) Each State Party shall take effective measures to review governmental, national and local policies, and to amend,
rescind or nullify any laws and regulations which have the effect of creating or perpetuating racial discrimination
wherever it exists;
(d) Each State Party shall prohibit and bring to an end, by all appropriate means, including legislation as required by
circumstances, racial discrimination by any persons, group or organization;
(e) Each State Party undertakes to encourage, where appropriate, integrationist multiracial organizations and
movements and other means of eliminating barriers between races, and to discourage anything which tends to
strengthen racial division.
2. States Parties shall, when the circumstances so warrant, take, in the social, economic, cultural and other fields, special
and concrete measures to ensure the adequate development and protection of certain racial groups or individuals
belonging to them, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and
fundamental freedoms. These measures shall in no case en tail as a con sequence the maintenance of unequal or
separate rights for different racial groups after the objectives for which they were taken have been achieved.
Article 3
States Parties particularly condemn racial segregation and apartheid and undertake to prevent, prohibit and eradicate
all practices of this nature in territories under their jurisdiction.
Article 4
States Parties condemn all propaganda and all organizations which are based on ideas or theories of superiority of one
race or group of persons of one colour or ethnic origin, or which attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and
discrimination in any form, and undertake to adopt immediate and positive measures designed to eradicate all
incitement to, or acts of, such discrimination and, to this end, with due regard to the principles embodied in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of this Convention, inter alia:
(a) Shall declare an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, incitement
to racial discrimination, as well as all acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or group of persons of
another colour or ethnic origin, and also the provision of any assistance to racist activities, including the financing
thereof;
(b) Shall declare illegal and prohibit organizations, and also organized and all other propaganda activities, which
promote and incite racial discrimination, and shall recognize participation in such organizations or activities as an
offence punishable by law;
(c) Shall not permit public authorities or public institutions, national or local, to promote or incite racial discrimination.
Article 5
In compliance with the fundamental obligations laid down in article 2 of this Convention, States Parties undertake to
prohibit and to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction
as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin, to equality before the law, notably in the enjoyment of the following
rights:
(a) The right to equal treatment before the tribunals and all other organs administering justice;
(b) The right to security of person and protection by the State against violence or bodily harm, whether inflicted by
government officials or by any individual group or institution;
(c) Political rights, in particular the right to participate in elections-to vote and to stand for election-on the basis of
universal and equal suffrage, to take part in the Government as well as in the conduct of public affairs at any level and
to have equal access to public service;
(d) Other civil rights, in particular:
(i) The right to freedom of movement and residence within the border of the State;
(ii) The right to leave any country, including one's own, and to return to one's country;
(iii) The right to nationality;
(iv) The right to marriage and choice of spouse;
(v) The right to own property alone as well as in association with others;
(vi) The right to inherit;
(vii) The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
(viii) The right to freedom of opinion and expression;
(ix) The right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association;
(e) Economic, social and cultural rights, in particular:
(i) The rights to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work, to protection against
unemployment, to equal pay for equal work, to just and favourable remuneration;
(ii) The right to form and join trade unions;
(iii) The right to housing;
(iv) The right to public health, medical care, social security and social services;
(v) The right to education and training;
(vi) The right to equal participation in cultural activities;
(f) The right of access to any place or service intended for use by the general public, such as transport hotels, restaurants,
cafes, theatres and parks.
Article 6
States Parties shall assure to everyone within their jurisdiction effective protection and remedies, through the
competent national tribunals and other State institutions, against any acts of racial discrimination which violate his
human rights and fundamental freedoms contrary to this Convention, as well as the right to seek from such tribunals
just and adequate reparation or satisfaction for any damage suffered as a result of such discrimination.
Article 7
States Parties undertake to adopt immediate and effective measures, particularly in the fields of teaching, education,
culture and information, with a view to combating prejudices which lead to racial discrimination and to promoting
understanding, tolerance and friendship among nations and racial or ethnical groups, as well as to propagating the
purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United
Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and this Convention.
PART II
Article 8
1. There shall be established a Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (hereinafter referred to as the
Committee) consisting of eighteen experts of high moral standing and acknowledged impartiality elected by States
Parties from among their nationals, who shall serve in their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable
geographical distribution and to the representation of the different forms of civilization as well as of the principal legal
systems.
2. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list of persons nominated by the States
Parties. Each State Party may nominate one person from among its own nationals.
3. The initial election shall be held six months after the date of the entry into force of this Convention. At least three
months before the date of each election the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address a letter to the States
Parties inviting them to submit their nominations within two months. The Secretary-General shall prepare a list in
alphabetical order of all persons thus nominated, indicating the States Parties which have nominated them, and shall
submit it to the States Parties.
4. Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at a meeting of States Parties convened by the Secretary-
General at United Nations Headquarters. At that meeting, for which two thirds of the States Parties shall constitute a
quorum, the persons elected to the Committee shall be nominees who obtain the largest number of votes and an
absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States Parties present and voting.
5.
(a) The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years. However, the terms of nine of the members
elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years; immediately after the first election the names of these
nine members shall be chosen by lot by the Chairman of the Committee;
(b) For the filling of casual vacancies, the State Party whose expert has ceased to function as a member of the Committee
shall appoint another expert from among its nationals, subject to the approval of the Committee.
6. States Parties shall be responsible for the expenses of the members of the Committee while they are in performance
of Committee duties.
Article 9
1. States Parties undertake to submit to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, for consideration by the
Committee, a report on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures which they have adopted and which
give effect to the provisions of this Convention: (a) within one year after the entry into force of the Convention for the
State concerned; and
(b) thereafter every two years and whenever the Committee so requests. The Committee may request further
information from the States Parties.
2. The Committee shall report annually, through the Secretary General, to the General Assembly of the United Nations
on its activities and may make suggestions and general recommendations based on the examination of the reports and
information received from the States Parties. Such suggestions and general recommendations shall be reported to the
General Assembly together with comments, if any, from States Parties.
Article 10
1. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
2. The Committee shall elect its officers for a term of two years.
3. The secretariat of the Committee shall be provided by the Secretary General of the United Nations.
4. The meetings of the Committee shall normally be held at United Nations Headquarters.
Article 11
1. If a State Party considers that another State Party is not giving effect to the provisions of this Convention, it may bring
the matter to the attention of the Committee. The Committee shall then transmit the communication to the State Party
concerned. Within three months, the receiving State shall submit to the Committee written explanations or statements
clarifying the matter and the remedy, if any, that may have been taken by that State.
2. If the matter is not adjusted to the satisfaction of both parties, either by bilateral negotiations or by any other
procedure open to them, within six months after the receipt by the receiving State of the initial communication, either
State shall have the right to refer the matter again to the Committee by notifying the Committee and also the other
State.
3. The Committee shall deal with a matter referred to it in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article after it has
ascertained that all available domestic remedies have been invoked and exhausted in the case, in conformity with the
generally recognized principles of international law. This shall not be the rule where the application of the remedies is
unreasonably prolonged.
4. In any matter referred to it, the Committee may call upon the States Parties concerned to supply any other relevant
information.
5. When any matter arising out of this article is being considered by the Committee, the States Parties concerned shall
be entitled to send a representative to take part in the proceedings of the Committee, without voting rights, while the
matter is under consideration.
Article 12
1. (a) After the Committee has obtained and collated all the information it deems necessary, the Chairman shall appoint
an ad hoc Conciliation Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) comprising five persons who may or
may not be members of the Committee. The members of the Commission shall be appointed with the unanimous
consent of the parties to the dispute, and its good offices shall be made available to the States concerned with a view
to an amicable solution of the matter on the basis of respect for this Convention;
(b) If the States parties to the dispute fail to reach agreement within three months on all or part of the composition of
the Commission, the members of the Commission not agreed upon by the States parties to the dispute shall be elected
by secret ballot by a two-thirds majority vote of the Committee from among its own members.
2. The members of the Commission shall serve in their personal capacity. They shall not be nationals of the States parties
to the dispute or of a State not Party to this Convention.
3. The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and adopt its own rules of procedure.
4. The meetings of the Commission shall normally be held at United Nations Headquarters or at any other convenient
place as determined by the Commission.
5. The secretariat provided in accordance with article 10, paragraph 3, of this Convention shall also service the
Commission whenever a dispute among States Parties brings the Commission into being.
6. The States parties to the dispute shall share equally all the expenses of the members of the Commission in accordance
with estimates to be provided by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
7. The Secretary-General shall be empowered to pay the expenses of the members of the Commission, if necessary,
before reimbursement by the States parties to the dispute in accordance with paragraph 6 of this article.
8. The information obtained and collated by the Committee shall be made available to the Commission, and the
Commission may call upon the States concerned to supply any other relevant information.
Article 13
1. When the Commission has fully considered the matter, it shall prepare and submit to the Chairman of the Committee
a report embodying its findings on all questions of fact relevant to the issue between the parties and containing such
recommendations as it may think proper for the amicable solution of the dispute.
2. The Chairman of the Committee shall communicate the report of the Commission to each of the States parties to the
dispute. These States shall, within three months, inform the Chairman of the Committee whether or not they accept
the recommendations contained in the report of the Commission.
3. After the period provided for in paragraph 2 of this article, the Chairman of the Committee shall communicate the
report of the Commission and the declarations of the States Parties concerned to the other States Parties to this
Convention.
Article 14
1. A State Party may at any time declare that it recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider
communications from individuals or groups of individuals within its jurisdiction claiming to be victims of a violation by
that State Party of any of the rights set forth in this Convention. No communication shall be received by the Committee
if it concerns a State Party which has not made such a declaration.
2. Any State Party which makes a declaration as provided for in paragraph I of this article may establish or indicate a
body within its national legal order which shall be competent to receive and consider petitions from individuals and
groups of individuals within its jurisdiction who claim to be victims of a violation of any of the rights set forth in this
Convention and who have exhausted other available local remedies.
3. A declaration made in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article and the name of any body established or indicated
in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article shall be deposited by the State Party concerned with the Secretary-
General of the United Nations, who shall transmit copies thereof to the other States Parties. A declaration may be
withdrawn at any time by notification to the Secretary-General, but such a withdrawal shall not affect communications
pending before the Committee.
4. A register of petitions shall be kept by the body established or indicated in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article,
and certified copies of the register shall be filed annually through appropriate channels with the Secretary-General on
the understanding that the contents shall not be publicly disclosed.
5. In the event of failure to obtain satisfaction from the body established or indicated in accordance with paragraph 2
of this article, the petitioner shall have the right to communicate the matter to the Committee within six months.
6.
(a) The Committee shall confidentially bring any communication referred to it to the attention of the State Party alleged
to be violating any provision of this Convention, but the identity of the individual or groups of individuals concerned
shall not be revealed without his or their express consent. The Committee shall not receive anonymous
communications;
(b) Within three months, the receiving State shall submit to the Committee written explanations or statements clarifying
the matter and the remedy, if any, that may have been taken by that State.
7.
(a) The Committee shall consider communications in the light of all information made available to it by the State Party
concerned and by the petitioner. The Committee shall not consider any communication from a petitioner unless it has
ascertained that the petitioner has exhausted all available domestic remedies. However, this shall not be the rule where
the application of the remedies is unreasonably prolonged;
(b) The Committee shall forward its suggestions and recommendations, if any, to the State Party concerned and to the
petitioner.
8. The Committee shall include in its annual report a summary of such communications and, where appropriate, a
summary of the explanations and statements of the States Parties concerned and of its own suggestions and
recommendations.
9. The Committee shall be competent to exercise the functions provided for in this article only when at least ten States
Parties to this Convention are bound by declarations in accordance with paragraph I of this article.
Article 15
1 . Pending the achievement of the objectives of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries
and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, the provisions of this
Convention shall in no way limit the right of petition granted to these peoples by other international instruments or by
the United Nations and its specialized agencies.
2.
(a) The Committee established under article 8, paragraph 1, of this Convention shall receive copies of the petitions from,
and submit expressions of opinion and recommendations on these petitions to, the bodies of the United Nations which
deal with matters directly related to the principles and objectives of this Convention in their consideration of petitions
from the inhabitants of Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories and all other territories to which General Assembly
resolution 1514 (XV) applies, relating to matters covered by this Convention which are before these bodies;
(b) The Committee shall receive from the competent bodies of the United Nations copies of the reports concerning the
legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures directly related to the principles and objectives of this Convention
applied by the administering Powers within the Territories mentioned in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, and shall
express opinions and make recommendations to these bodies.
3. The Committee shall include in its report to the General Assembly a summary of the petitions and reports it has
received from United Nations bodies, and the expressions of opinion and recommendations of the Committee relating
to the said petitions and reports.
4. The Committee shall request from the Secretary-General of the United Nations all information relevant to the
objectives of this Convention and available to him regarding the Territories mentioned in paragraph 2 (a) of this article.
Article 16
The provisions of this Convention concerning the settlement of disputes or complaints shall be applied without
prejudice to other procedures for settling disputes or complaints in the field of discrimination laid down in the
constituent instruments of, or conventions adopted by, the United Nations and its specialized agencies, and shall not
prevent the States Parties from having recourse to other procedures for settling a dispute in accordance with general
or special international agreements in force between them.
PART III
Article 17
1. This Convention is open for signature by any State Member of the United Nations or member of any of its specialized
agencies, by any State Party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice, and by any other State which has been
invited by the General Assembly of the United Nations to become a Party to this Convention.
2. This Convention is subject to ratification. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of
the United Nations.
Article 18
1. This Convention shall be open to accession by any State referred to in article 17, paragraph 1, of the Convention. 2.
Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United
Nations.
Article 19
1. This Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of
the United Nations of the twenty-seventh instrument of ratification or instrument of accession.
2. For each State ratifying this Convention or acceding to it after the deposit of the twenty-seventh instrument of
ratification or instrument of accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of the
deposit of its own instrument of ratification or instrument of accession.
Article 20
1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall receive and circulate to all States which are or may become Parties
to this Convention reservations made by States at the time of ratification or accession. Any State which objects to the
reservation shall, within a period of ninety days from the date of the said communication, notify the Secretary-General
that it does not accept it.
2. A reservation incompatible with the object and purpose of this Convention shall not be permitted, nor shall a
reservation the effect of which would inhibit the operation of any of the bodies established by this Convention be
allowed. A reservation shall be considered incompatible or inhibitive if at least two thirds of the States Parties to this
Convention object to it.
3. Reservations may be withdrawn at any time by notification to this effect addressed to the Secretary-General. Such
notification shall take effect on the date on which it is received.
Article 21
A State Party may denounce this Convention by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Denunciation shall take effect one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary General.
Article 22
Any dispute between two or more States Parties with respect to the interpretation or application of this Convention,
which is not settled by negotiation or by the procedures expressly provided for in this Convention, shall, at the request
of any of the parties to the dispute, be referred to the International Court of Justice for decision, unless the disputants
agree to another mode of settlement.
Article 23
1. A request for the revision of this Convention may be made at any time by any State Party by means of a notification
in writing addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
2. The General Assembly of the United Nations shall decide upon the steps, if any, to be taken in respect of such a
request.
Article 24
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States referred to in article 17, paragraph 1, of this
Convention of the following particulars:
(a) Signatures, ratifications and accessions under articles 17 and 18;
(b) The date of entry into force of this Convention under article 19;
(c) Communications and declarations received under articles 14, 20 and 23;
(d) Denunciations under article 21.
Article 25
1. This Convention, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be
deposited in the archives of the United Nations.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit certified copies of this Convention to all States belonging
to any of the categories mentioned in article 17, paragraph 1, of the Convention.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9851
AN ACT DEFINING AND PENALIZING CRIMES AGAINST INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, GENOCIDE AND OTHER
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, ORGANIZING JURISDICTION, DESIGNATING SPECIAL COURTS, AND FOR RELATED
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian
Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity".
Section 2. Declaration of Principles and State Policies. -
(a) The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles of
international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to a policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom,
cooperation and amity with all nations.
(b) The state values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights, including the
rights of indigenous cultural communities and other vulnerable groups, such as women and children;
(c) It shall be the responsibility of the State and all other sectors concerned to resolved armed conflict in order to
promote the goal of "Children as Zones of Peace";
(d) The state adopts the generally accepted principles of international law, including the Hague Conventions of 1907,
the Geneva Conventions on the protection of victims of war and international humanitarian law, as part of the law
our nation;
(e) The most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole must not go unpunished and their
effective prosecution must be ensured by taking measures at the national level, in order to put an end to impunity
for the perpetrators of these crimes and thus contribute to the prevention of such crimes, it being the duty of every
State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for international crimes;
(f) The State shall guarantee persons suspected or accused of having committed grave crimes under international law
all rights necessary to ensure that their trial will be fair and prompt in strict accordance with national and
international law and standards for fair trial, It shall also protect victims, witnesses and their families, and provide
appropriate redress to victims and their families, It shall ensure that the legal systems in place provide accessible and
gender-sensitive avenues of redress for victims of armed conflict, and
(g)The State recognizes that the application of the provisions of this Act shall not affect the legal status of the parties
to a conflict, nor give an implied recognition of the status of belligerency
CHAPTER II
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Section 3. For purposes of this Act, the term:
(a) "Apartheid' means inhumane acts committed in the context of an institutionalized regime of systematic
oppression and domination by one racial group or groups and committed with the intention of maintaining that
regime
(b) "Arbitrary deportation or forcible transfer of population" means forced displacement of the persons concerned
by expultion by expulsion or other coercive acts from the area in which they are lawfully present, without grounds
permitted under domestic or international law.
(c) "Armed conflict" means any use of force or armed violence between States or a protracted armed violence
between governmental authorities and organized armed groups or between such groups within that State: Provided,
That such force or armed violence gives rise, or may give rise, to a situation to which the Geneva Conventions of 12
August 1949, including their common Article 3, apply. Armed conflict may be international, that is, between two (2)
or more States, including belligerent occupation; or non-international, that is, between governmental authorities and
organized armed groups or between such groups within a state. It does not cover internal disturbances or tensions
such as riots, isolated and sporadic acts of violence or other acts of a similar nature.
(d) "Armed forces" means all organized armed forces, groups and units that belong to a party to an armed conflict
which are under a command responsible to that party for the conduct of its subordinates. Such armed forces shall be
subject to an internal disciplinary system which enforces compliance with International Humanitarian Law
(e) "Attack directed against any civilian population" means a course of conduct involving the multiple commission of
acts referred to in Section 6 of this Act against any civilian population, pursuant to or in furtherance of a State or
organizational policy to commit such attack.
(f) "Effective command and control" or " effective authority and control" means having the material ability to prevent
and punish the commission of offenses by subordinates.
(g) "Enforced or involuntary disappearance of persons" means the arrest, detention, or abduction of persons by, or
with the authorization support or acquiescence of, a State or a political organization followed by a refusal to
acknowledge that deprivation of freedom or to give information on the fate or whereabouts of those persons, with
the intention of removing from the protection of the law for a prolonged period of time
(h) "Enslavement" means the exercise of any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership over a person
and includes the exercise of such power in the course of trafficking in persons, in particular women and children.
(i) "Extermination" means the international infliction of conditions of life, inter alia, the deprivation of access to food
and medicine, calculated to bring about the destruction of a part of a population.
(j) " Forced pregnancy" means the unlawful confinement of a women to be forcibly made pregnant, with the intent
of affecting the ethnic composition of any population carrying out other grave violations of international law.
(k) "Hors de Combat" means a person who:
(1) is in the power of an adverse party;
(2) has clearly expressed an intention to surrender; or
(3) has been rendered unconscious or otherwise incapacitated by wounds or sickness and therefore is incapable
of defending himself: Provided, that in any of these cases, the person form any hostile act and does not attempt
to escape.
(l) "Military necessity" means the necessity of employing measures which are indispensable to achieve a legitimate
aim of the conflict and are not otherwise prohibited by International Humanitarian Law
(m) "Non-defended locality" means a locality that fulfills the following conditions:
(1) all combatants, as well as mobile weapons and mobile military equipment, must have been evacuated;
(2) no hostile use of fixed military installations or establishments must have been made;
(3) no acts of hostility must have been committed by the authorities or by the population; and
(4) no activities in support of military operations, must have been undertaken.
(n) "No quarter will be given' means refusing to spare the life of anybody, even of persons manifestly unable to defend
themselves or who clearly express their intention to surrender.
(o) "Perfidy" means acts which invite the confidence of an adversary to lead him/her to believe he/she is entitled to,
or is obliged to accord, protection under the rules of International Humanitarian Law, with the intent to betray that
confidence, including but not limited to:
 (1) feigning an intent to negotiate under a flag of truce; (2) Torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments;
(2) feigning surrender; (3) Willfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health;
(3) feigning incapacitation by wounds or sickness; (4) Extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity and carried out
unlawfully and wantonly;
(4) feigning civilian or noncombatant status; and
(5) Willfully depriving a prisoner of war or other protected person of the rights of fair and regular trial;
(5) feigning protective status by use of signs, emblems or uniforms of the United Nations or of a neutral or other
State not party to the conflict. (6) Arbitrary deportation or forcible transfer of population or unlawful confinement;
(p) "Persecution" means the international and severe deprivation of fundamental rights contrary to international law (7) Taking of hostages;
by reason of identity of the group or collectivity.
(8) Compelling a prisoner a prisoner of war or other protected person to serve in the forces of a hostile power; and
(q) "Protect person" in an armed conflict means:
(9) Unjustifiable delay in the repatriation of prisoners of war or other protected persons.
(1) a person wounded, sick or shipwrecked, whether civilian or military;
(b) In case of a non-international armed conflict, serious violations of common Article 3 to the four (4) Geneva
(2) a prisoner of war or any person deprived of liberty for reasons related to an armed conflict; Conventions of 12 August 1949, namely , any of the following acts committed against persons taking no active part
in the hostilities, including member of the armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de
(3) a civilian or any person not taking a direct part or having ceased to take part in the hostilities in the power of
combat by sickness, wounds, detention or any other cause;
the adverse party;
(1) Violence to life and person, in particular, willful killings, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
(4) a person who, before the beginning of hostilities, was considered a stateless person or refugee under the
relevant international instruments accepted by the parties to the conflict concerned or under the national (2) Committing outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment;
legislation of the state of refuge or state of residence;
(3) Taking of hostages; and
(5) a member of the medical personnel assigned exclusively to medical purposes or to the administration of medical
(4) The passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a
units or to the operation of or administration of medical transports; or
regularly constituted court, affording all judicial guarantees which are generally recognized as indispensable.
(6) a member of the religious personnel who is exclusively engaged in the work of their ministry and attached to
(c) Other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in armed conflict, within the established framework
the armed forces of a party to the conflict, its medical units or medical transports, or non-denominational,
of international law, namely:
noncombatant military personnel carrying out functions similar to religious personnel.
(1) Internationally directing attacks against the civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking
(r) " Superior" means:
direct part in hostilities;
(1) a military commander or a person effectively acting as a military commander; or
(2) Intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects, that is, object which are not military objectives;
(2) any other superior, in as much as the crimes arose from activities within the effective authority and control of
(3) Intentionally directing attacks against buildings, material, medical units and transport, and personnel using the
that superior.
distinctive emblems of the Geneva Conventions or Additional Protocol III in conformity with intentional law;
(s) "Torture" means the intentional infliction of severe pain or suffering, whether physical, mental, or psychological,
(4) Intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units or vehicles involved in a
upon a person in the custody or under the control of the accused; except that torture shall not include pain or
humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as ling as
suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to, lawful sanctions.
they are entitled to the protection given to civilians or civilian objects under the international law of armed conflict;
(t) "Works and installations containing dangerous forces" means works and installations the attack of which may
(5) Launching an attack in the knowledge that such attack will cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians or
cause the release of dangerous forces and consequent severe losses among the civilian population, namely: dams,
damage to civilian objects or widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would
dikes, and nuclear, electrical generation stations.
be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated;
CHAPTER III
(6) Launching an attack against works or installations containing dangerous forces in the knowledge that such
CRIMES AGAINST INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW,
attack will cause excessive loss of life, injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects, and causing death or serious
GENOCIDE AND OTHER CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
injury to body or health .
Section 4. War Crimes. - For the purpose of this Act, "war crimes" or "crimes against Interntional Human Humanitarian
(7) Attacking or bombarding, by whatever means, towns, villages, dwellings or buildings which are undefended
Law" means:
and which are not military objectives, or making non-defended localities or demilitarized zones the object of attack;
(a) In case of an international armed conflict , grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, namely,
(8) Killing or wounding a person in the knowledge that he/she is hors de combat, including a combatant who, having
any of the following acts against persons or property protected under provisions of the relevant Geneva Convention:
laid down his/her arms or no longer having means of defense, has surrendered at discretion;
(1) Willful killing;
(9) Making improper use of a flag of truce, of the flag or the military insignia and uniform of the enemy or of the
United Nations, as well as of the distinctive emblems of the Geneva Conventions or other protective signs under
International Humanitarian Law, resulting in death, serious personal injury or capture;
(10) Intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable
purposes, historic monuments, hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are
not military objectives. In case of doubt whether such building or place has been used to make an effective
contribution to military action, it shall be presumed not to be so used;
(11) Subjecting persons who are in the power of an adverse party to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific
experiments of any kind, or to removal of tissue or organs for transplantation, which are neither justified by the
medical, dental or hospital treatment of the person concerned nor carried out in his/her interest, and which cause
death to or seriously endanger the health of such person or persons;
(12) Killing, wounding or capturing an adversary by resort to perfidy;
(13) Declaring that no quarter will be given;
(14) Destroying or seizing the enemy's property unless such destruction or seizure is imperatively demanded by
the necessities of war;
(15) Pillaging a town or place, even when taken by assault;
(16) Ordering the displacements of the civilian population for reasons related to the conflict, unless the security of
the civilians involved or imperative military reasons so demand;
(17) Transferring, directly or indirectly, by the occupying power of parts of its own civilian population into the
territory it occupies, or the deportation or transfer of all or parts of the population of the occupied territory within
or outside this territory;
(18) Commiting outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatments;
(19) Commiting rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, or any other
form of sexual violence also constituting a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions or a serious violation of
common Article 3 to the Geneva Convensions;
(20) Utilizing the presence of a civilian or other protected person to render certain points, areas or military forces
immune from military operations;
(21) Intentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indespensable
to their survival, including willfully impeding relief supplies as provided for under the Geneva Conventions and
their Additional Protocols;
(22) In an international armed conflict, compelling the nationals of the hostile party to take part in the operations
of war directed against their own country, even if they were in the belligerent's service before the commencement
of the war;
(23) In an international armed conflict, declaring abolished, suspended or inadmissible in a court of law the rights
and actions of the nationals of the hostile party;
(24) Commiting any of the following acts:
(i) Conscripting, enlisting or recruiting children under the age of fifteen (15) years into the national armed forces;
(ii) Conscripting, enlisting or recruiting children under the age of eighteen (18) years into an armed force or
group other than the national armed forces; and
(iii) Using children under the age of eighteen (18) years to participate actively in hostilities; and
(25) Employing means of warfare which are prohibited under international law, such as:
(i) Poison or poisoned weapons;
(ii) Asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and all analogous liquids, materials or devices;
(iii) Bullets which expand or flatten easily in the human body, such as bullets with hard envelopes which do not
entirely cover the core or are pierced with incisions; and
(iv) Weapons, projectiles and material and methods of warfare which are of the nature to cause superfluous
injury or unecessary suffering or which are inherently indiscriminate in violation of the international law of
armed conflict.
Any person found guilty of commiting any of the acts specified herein shall suffer the penalty provided under
Section 7 of this Act.
Section 5. Genocide - (a) For the purpose of this Act, "genocide" means any of the following acts with intent to destroy,
in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, religious, social or any other similar stable and permanent group as such:
(1) Killing members of the group;
(2) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(3) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in
whole or in part;
(4) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; and
(5) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to directly and publicly incite others to commit genocide.
Any person found guilty of committing any of the acts specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section shall suffer the
penalty provided under Section 7 of this Act.
Section 6. Other Crimes Against Humanity. - For the purpose of this act, "other crimes against humanity" means any of
the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population,
with knowledge of the attack:
(a) Willful killing;
(b) Extermination;
(c) Enslavement;
(d) Arbitrary deportation or forcible transfer of population;
(e) Imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international
law;
(f) Torture;
(g) Rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, or any other form of sexual
violence of comparable gravity;
(h) Persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious,
gender, sexual orientation or other grounds that are universally recognized as impermissible under international
law, in connection with any act referred to in this paragraph or any crime defined in this Act;
(i) Enforced or involuntary disappearance of persons;
(j) Apartheid; and
 (k) Other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to
mental or physical health.
Any person found guilty of committing any of the acts specified herein shall suffer the penalty provided under Section
7 of this Act.
CHAPTER IV
PENAL PROVISIONS
Section 7. Penalties. - Any person found guilty of committing any of the acts provided under Sections 4, 5 and 6 of this
Act shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium to maximum period and a fine ranging from One hundred
thousand pesos (Php 100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos (Php 500,000.00).
When justified by the extreme gravity of the crime, especially where the commision of any of the crimes specified herein
results in death or serious physical injury, or constitutes rape, and considering the individual circumstances of the
accused, the penalty of reclusion perpetua and a fine ranging from Five hundred thousand pesos (Php 500,000.00) to
One million pesos (Php 1,000,000.00) shall be imposed.
Any person found guilty of inciting others to commit genocide referred to in Section 5(b) of this Act shall suffer the
penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period and a fine ranging from Ten thousand pesos (Php 10,000.00) to Twenty
thousand pesos (Php 20,000.00).
In addition, the court shall order the forfeiture of proceeds, property and assets derived, directly or indirectly, from that
crime, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third (3rd) parties. The court shall also impose the corresponding
accessory penalties under the Revised Penal Code, especially where the offender is a public officer.
CHAPTER V
SOME PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY
Section 8. Individual Criminal Responsibilities. - (a) In addition to existing provisions in Philippine law on principles of
criminal responsibility, a person shall be criminally liable as principal for a crime defined and penalized in this Act if
he/she:
(1) Commits such a crime, whether as an individual, jointly with another or through another person, regardless of
whether that other person is criminally responsible;
(2) Orders, solicits or induces the commission of such a crime which in fact occurs or is attempted;
(3) In any other way contributes to the commission or attempted commission of such a crime by a group of person
acting with a common purpose. Such contribution shall be intentional and shall either:
(i) be made with the aim of furthering the criminal activity or criminal purpose of the group, where such activity
or purpose involves the commission of a crime defined in this Act; or
(ii) be made in the knowledge of the intention of the group to commit the crime.
(b) A person shall be criminally liable as accomplice for facilitating the commission of a crime defined and penalized
in this Act if he/she aids, abets or otherwise assists in its commission or attempted commission, including providing
the means for its commission.
(c) A person shall be criminally liable for a crime defined and penalized in this Act if he/she attempts to commit such
a crime by taking action that commences its execution by means of a substantial step, but the crime does not occur
because of circumstances independent of the person's intention. However, a person who abandons the effort to
commit the crime or otherwise prevents the completion of the crime shall not be liable for punishment under this
Act for the attempt to commit the same if he/she completely and voluntarily gave up the criminal purpose.
Section 9. Irrelevance of Official Capacity. - This Act shall apply equally to all persons without any distinction based on
official capacity. In particular, official capacity as a head of state or government, a member of a government or
parliament, an elected representative or a government official shall in no case exempt a person from criminal
responsibility under this Act, nor shall it, in and of itself, constitute a ground for reduction of sentence. However:
(a) Immunities or special procedural rules that may be attached to the official capacity of a person under Philippine
law other than the established constitutional immunity from suit of the Philippine President during his/her tenure,
shall not bar the court from exercising jurisdiction over such a person; and
(b) Immunities that may be attached to the official capacity of a person under international law may limit the
application of this Act, nut only within the bounds established under international law.
Section 10. Responsibility of Superiors. - In addition to other grounds of criminal responsibility for crimes defined and
penalized under this Act, a superior shall be criminally responsible as a principal for such crimes committed by
subordinates under his/her effective command and control, or effective authority and control as the case may be, as a
result of his/her failure to properly exercise control over such subordinates, where:
(a) That superior either knew or, owing to the circumstances at the time, should have known that the subordinates
were committing or about to commit such crimes;
(b) That superior failed to take all necessary and reasonable measures within his/her power to prevent or repress
their commission or to submit the matter to the competent authorities for investigation and prosecution.
Section 11. Non-prescription. - The crimes defined and penalized under this Act, their prosecution, and the execution
of sentences imposed on their account, shall not be subject to any prescription.
Section 12. Orders from a Superior. - The fact that a crime defined and penalized under this Act has been committed by
a person pursuant to an order of a government or a superior, whether military or civilian, shall not relieve that person
of criminal responsibility unless all of the following elements occur:
(a) The person was under a legal obligation to obey orders of the government or the superior in question;
(b) The person did not know that the order was unlawful; and
(c) The order was not manifestly unlawful.
For the purposes of this section, orders to commit genocide or other crimes against humanity are manifestly unlawful.
CHAPTER VI
Protection of Victims and Witnesses
Section 13. Protection of Victims and Witnesses. - In addition to existing provisions in Philippine law for the protection
of victims and witnesses, the following measures shall be undertaken:
(a) The Philippine court shall take appropriate measures to protect the safety, physical and physiological well-being,
dignity and privacy of victims and witnesses. In so doing, the court shall have regard of all relevant factors, including
age, gender and health, and the nature of the crime, in particular, but not limited to, where the crime involves sexual
or gender violence or violence against children. The prosecutor shall take such measures particularly during the
investigation and prosecution of such crimes. These measures shall not be prejudicial to or inconsistent with the
rights of the accused and to a fair and impartial trial;
(b) As an exception to the general principle of public hearings, the court may, to protect the victims and witnesses or
an accused, conduct any part of the proceedings in camera or allow the presentation of evidence by electronic or
other special means. In particular, such measures shall be implemented in the case of the victim of sexual violence
or a child who is a victim or is a witness, unless otherwise ordered by the court, having regard to all the circumstances,
particularly the views of the victim or witness;
(c) Where the personal interests of the victims are affected, the court shall permit their views and concerns to be
presented and considered at stages of the proceedings determined to be appropriate by the court in manner which
is not prejudicial to or inconsistent with the rights of the accused and a fair and impartial trial. Such views and
 concerns may be presented by the legal representatives of the victims where the court considers it appropriate in Section 17. Jurisdiction.- The State shall exercise jurisdiction over persons, whether military or civilian, suspected or
accordance with the established rules of procedure and evidence; and accused of a crime defined and penalized in this Act, regardless of where the crime is committed, provided, any one of
the following conditions is met:
(d) Where the disclosure of evidence or information pursuant to this Act may lead to the grave endangerment of the
security of a witness for his/her family, the prosecution may, for the purposes of any proceedings conducted prior to (a) The accused is a Filipino citizen;
the commencement of the trial, withhold such evidence or information and instead submit a summary thereof. Such
(b) The accused, regardless of citizenship or residence, is present in the Philippines; or
measures shall be exercised in a manner which is not prejudicial to or inconsistent with the rights of the accused and
to a fair and impartial trial. (c) The accused has committed the said crime against a Filipino citizen.
Section 14. Reparations to Victims. - In addition to existing provisions in Philippine law and procedural rules for In the interest of justice, the relevant Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution of a
reparations to victims, the following measures shall be undertaken: crime punishable under this Act if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation or
undertaking the prosecution of such crime. Instead, the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused
(a) The court shall follow the principles relating to the reparations to, or in respect of, victims,including restitution,
persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court, if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable
compensation and rehabilitation. On this basis, in its decision, the court may, wither upon request or on its own
extradition laws and treaties.
motion in exceptional circumstances, determine the scope and extent of any damage, loss and injury to, or in respect
of, victims and state the principles on which it is acting;1avvphi1 No criminal proceedings shall be initiated against foreign nationals suspected or accused of having committed the
crimes defined and penalized in this Act if they have been tried by a competent court outside the Philippines in respect
(b) The court may make an order directly against a convicted person specifying appropriate reparations to, or in
of the same offense and acquitted, or having been convicted, already served their sentence.
respect of, victims, including restitution, compensation and rehabilitation; and
Section 18. Philippine Court, Prosecutors and Investigators. - The Regional Trial Court of the Philippines shall have
(c) Before making an order under this section, the court may invite and shall take account of representations from or
original and exclusive jurisdiction over the crimes punishable under this Act. Their judgments may be appealed or
on behalf of the convicted person, victims or other interested persons.
elevated to the Court of Appeals and to the Supreme Court as provided by law.
Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as prejudicing the rights of victims under national or international law.
The Supreme Court shall designate special courts to try cases involving crimes punishable under this Act. For these
CHAPTER VII cases, the Commission on Human Rights, the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police or other concerned
Applicability of International Law and Other Laws law enforcement agencies shall designate prosecutors or investigators as the case may be.
Section 15. Applicability of International Law.- In the application and interpretation of this Act, Philippine courts shall The State shall ensure that judges, prosecutors and investigators, especially those designated for purposes of this Act,
be guided by the following sources: receive effective training in human rights, International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law.
(a) The 1948 Genocide Convention; CHAPTER IX
FINAL PROVISIONS
(b) The 1949 Genava Conventions I-IV, their 1977 Additional Protocols I and II and their 2005 Additional Protocol III;
Section 19. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this Statute shall be held to be
(c) The 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, its First Protocol
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full
and its 1999 Second Protocol;
force and effect.
(d) The 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child and its 2000 Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in
Section 20. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees and issuances, executive orders, rules and regulations or
Armed Conflict;
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Statute are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
(e) The rules and principles of customary international law;
Section 21. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette
(f) The judicial decisions of international courts and tribunals; or in two (2) newspapers general circulation.
(g) Relevant and applicable international human rights instruments;
(h) Other relevant international treaties and conventions ratified or acceded to by the Republic of the Philippines;
and
(i) Teachings of the most highly qualified publicists and authoritative commentaries on the foregoing sources as
subsidiary means for the determination of rules of international law.
Section 16. Suppletory Application of the Revised Penal Code and Other General or Special Laws. - The provisions of the
Revised Penal Code and other general or special laws shall have a suppletory application to the provisions of this Act.
CHAPTER VII
JURISDICTION
 Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity
Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2391 (XXIII) of 26
November 1968
Entry into force: 11 November 1970, in accordance with article VIII
Preamble
The States Parties to the present Convention ,
Recalling resolutions of the General Assembly of the United Nations 3 (I) of 13 February 1946 and 170 (II) of 31 October
1947 on the extradition and punishment of war criminals, resolution 95 (I) of 11 December 1946 affirming the principles
of international law recognized by the Charter of the International Military Tribunal, Nürnberg, and the judgement of
the Tribunal, and resolutions 2184 (XXI) of 12 December 1966 and 2202 (XXI) of 16 December 1966 which expressly
condemned as crimes against humanity the violation of the economic and political rights of the indigenous population
on the one hand and the policies of apartheid on the other,
Recalling resolutions of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations 1074 D (XXXIX) of 28 July 1965 and 1158
(XLI) of 5 August 1966 on the punishment of war criminals and of persons who have committed crimes against humanity,
Noting that none of the solemn declarations, instruments or conventions relating to the prosecution and punishment
of war crimes and crimes against humanity made provision for a period of limitation,
Considering that war crimes and crimes against humanity are among the gravest crimes in international law,
Convinced that the effective punishment of war crimes and crimes against humanity is an important element in the
prevention of such crimes, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the encouragement of
confidence, the furtherance of co-operation among peoples and the promotion of international peace and security,
Noting that the application to war crimes and crimes against humanity of the rules of municipal law relating to the
period of limitation for ordinary crimes is a matter of serious concern to world public opinion, since it prevents the
prosecution and punishment of persons responsible for those crimes,
Recognizing that it is necessary and timely to affirm in international law, through this Convention, the principle that
there is no period of limitation for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and to secure its universal application,
Have agreed as follows:
Article I
No statutory limitation shall apply to the following crimes, irrespective of the date of their commission:
(a) War crimes as they are defined in the Charter of the International Military Tribunal, Nürnberg, of 8 August 1945 and
confirmed by resolutions 3 (I) of 13 February 1946 and 95 (I) of 11 December 1946 of the General Assembly of the
United Nations, particularly the "grave breaches" enumerated in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the
protection of war victims;
(b) Crimes against humanity whether committed in time of war or in time of peace as they are defined in the Charter of
the International Military Tribunal, Nürnberg, of 8 August 1945 and confirmed by resolutions 3 (I) of 13 February 1946
and 95 (I) of 11 December 1946 of the General Assembly of the United Nations, eviction by armed attack or occupation
and inhuman acts resulting from the policy of apartheid , and the crime of genocide as defined in the 1948 Convention
on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, even if such acts do not constitute a violation of the
domestic law of the country in which they were committed.
Article II
If any of the crimes mentioned in article I is committed, the provisions of this Convention shall apply to representatives
of the State authority and private individuals who, as principals or accomplices, participate in or who directly incite
others to the commission of any of those crimes, or who conspire to commit them, irrespective of the degree of
completion, and to representatives of the State authority who tolerate their commission.
Article III
The States Parties to the present Convention undertake to adopt all necessary domestic measures, legislative or
otherwise, with a view to making possible the extradition, in accordance with international law, of the persons referred
to in article II of this Convention.
Article IV
The States Parties to the present Convention undertake to adopt, in accordance with their respective constitutional
processes, any legislative or other measures necessary to ensure that statutory or other limitations shall not apply to
the prosecution and punishment of the crimes referred to in articles I and II of this Convention and that, where they
exist, such limitations shall be abolished.
Article V
This Convention shall, until 31 December 1969, be open for signature by any State Member of the United Nations or
member of any of its specialized agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency, by any State Party to the Statute
of the International Court of Justice, and by any other State which has been invited by the General Assembly of the
United Nations to become a Party to this Convention.
Article VI
This Convention is subject to ratification. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of
the United Nations.
Article VII
This Convention shall be open to accession by any State referred to in article V. Instruments of accession shall be
deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article VIII

1. This Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General
of the United Nations of the tenth instrument of ratification or accession.

2. For each State ratifying this Convention or acceding to it after the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification or
accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of the deposit of its own instrument
of ratification or accession.

Article IX

1. After the expiry of a period of ten years from the date on which this Convention enters into force, a request for the
revision of the Convention may be made at any time by any Contracting Party by means of a notification in writing
addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

2. The General Assembly of the United Nations shall decide upon the steps, if any, to be taken in respect of such a
request.

Article X

1. This Convention shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit certified copies of this Convention to all States referred
to in article V.

3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States referred to in article V of the following particulars:

(a) Signatures of this Convention, and instruments of ratification and accession deposited under articles V, VI and VII;

(b) The date of entry into force of this Convention in accordance with article VIII;

(c) Communications received under article IX.

Article XI

This Convention, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall bear the
date of 26 November 1968.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorized for that purpose, have signed this Convention.
 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (c) Direct and public incitement to commit genocide;

(d) Attempt to commit genocide;

Approved and proposed for signature and ratification or accession by General Assembly resolution 260 A (III) of 9
December 1948 (e) Complicity in genocide.
Entry into force: 12 January 1951, in accordance with article XIII
Article IV
The Contracting Parties ,
Persons committing genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in article III shall be punished, whether they are
Having considered the declaration made by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 96 (I) dated 11 constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals.
December 1946 that genocide is a crime under international law, contrary to the spirit and aims of the United Nations
Article V
and condemned by the civilized world,
The Contracting Parties undertake to enact, in accordance with their respective Constitutions, the necessary legislation
Recognizing that at all periods of history genocide has inflicted great losses on humanity, and
to give effect to the provisions of the present Convention, and, in particular, to provide effective penalties for persons
Being convinced that, in order to liberate mankind from such an odious scourge, international co-operation is required, guilty of genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in article III.

Hereby agree as hereinafter provided : Article VI

Article I Persons charged with genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in article III shall be tried by a competent tribunal
of the State in the territory of which the act was committed, or by such international penal tribunal as may have
The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under
jurisdiction with respect to those Contracting Parties which shall have accepted its jurisdiction.
international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish.
Article VII
Article II
Genocide and the other acts enumerated in article III shall not be considered as political crimes for the purpose of
In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in
extradition.
part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
The Contracting Parties pledge themselves in such cases to grant extradition in accordance with their laws and treaties
(a) Killing members of the group;
in force.
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
Article VIII
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in
Any Contracting Party may call upon the competent organs of the United Nations to take such action under the Charter
part;
of the United Nations as they consider appropriate for the prevention and suppression of acts of genocide or any of the
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; other acts enumerated in article III.

(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. Article IX

Article III Disputes between the Contracting Parties relating to the interpretation, application or fulfilment of the present
Convention, including those relating to the responsibility of a State for genocide or for any of the other acts enumerated
The following acts shall be punishable:
in article III, shall be submitted to the International Court of Justice at the request of any of the parties to the dispute.
(a) Genocide;
Article X
(b) Conspiracy to commit genocide;
The present Convention, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall
bear the date of 9 December 1948.
Article XI A request for the revision of the present Convention may be made at any time by any Contracting Party by means of a
notification in writing addressed to the Secretary-General.
The present Convention shall be open until 31 December 1949 for signature on behalf of any Member of the United
Nations and of any non-member State to which an invitation to sign has been addressed by the General Assembly. The General Assembly shall decide upon the steps, if any, to be taken in respect of such request.

The present Convention shall be ratified, and the instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary- Article XVII
General of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall notify all Members of the United Nations and the non-member States
After 1 January 1950, the present Convention may be acceded to on behalf of any Member of the United Nations and contemplated in article XI of the following:
of any non-member State which has received an invitation as aforesaid.
(a) Signatures, ratifications and accessions received in accordance with article XI;
Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
(b) Notifications received in accordance with article XII;
Article XII
(c) The date upon which the present Convention comes into force in accordance with article XIII;
Any Contracting Party may at any time, by notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, extend
(d) Denunciations received in accordance with article XIV;
the application of the present Convention to all or any of the territories for the conduct of whose foreign relations that
Contracting Party is responsible. (e) The abrogation of the Convention in accordance with article XV;

Article XIII (f) Notifications received in accordance with article XVI.

On the day when the first twenty instruments of ratification or accession have been deposited, the Secretary-General Article XVIII
shall draw up a procès-verbal and transmit a copy thereof to each Member of the United Nations and to each of the
The original of the present Convention shall be deposited in the archives of the United Nations.
non-member States contemplated in article XI.
A certified copy of the Convention shall be transmitted to each Member of the United Nations and to each of the non-
The present Convention shall come into force on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit of the twentieth
member States contemplated in article XI.
instrument of ratification or accession.
Article XIX
Any ratification or accession effected subsequent to the latter date shall become effective on the ninetieth day following
the deposit of the instrument of ratification or accession. The present Convention shall be registered by the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the date of its coming
into force.
Article XIV

The present Convention shall remain in effect for a period of ten years as from the date of its coming into force.

It shall thereafter remain in force for successive periods of five years for such Contracting Parties as have not denounced
it at least six months before the expiration of the current period.

Denunciation shall be effected by a written notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article XV

If, as a result of denunciations, the number of Parties to the present Convention should become less than sixteen, the
Convention shall cease to be in force as from the date on which the last of these denunciations shall become effective.

Article XVI
 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 39/46 of 10 December
1984
entry into force 26 June 1987, in accordance with article 27 (1)
The States Parties to this Convention,
Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the
equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the
world,
Recognizing that those rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person,
Considering the obligation of States under the Charter, in particular Article 55, to promote universal respect for, and
observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Having regard to article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 7 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, both of which provide that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment,
Having regard also to the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 1975,
Desiring to make more effective the struggle against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment throughout the world,
Have agreed as follows:
PART I
Article 1
1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "torture" means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether
physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person
information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having
committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind,
when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official
or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or
incidental to lawful sanctions.
2. This article is without prejudice to any international instrument or national legislation which does or may contain
provisions of wider application.
Article 2
1. Each State Party shall take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture
in any territory under its jurisdiction.
2. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or
any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.
3. An order from a superior officer or a public authority may not be invoked as a justification of torture.
Article 3
1. No State Party shall expel, return ("refouler") or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial
grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture.
2. For the purpose of determining whether there are such grounds, the competent authorities shall take into account
all relevant considerations including, where applicable, the existence in the State concerned of a consistent pattern of
gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights.
Article 4
1. Each State Party shall ensure that all acts of torture are offences under its criminal law. The same shall apply to an
attempt to commit torture and to an act by any person which constitutes complicity or participation in torture. 2. Each
State Party shall make these offences punishable by appropriate penalties which take into account their grave nature.
Article 5
1. Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offences referred
to in article 4 in the following cases:
(a) When the offences are committed in any territory under its jurisdiction or on board a ship or aircraft registered in
that State;
(b) When the alleged offender is a national of that State;
(c) When the victim is a national of that State if that State considers it appropriate.
2. Each State Party shall likewise take such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over such offences
in cases where the alleged offender is present in any territory under its jurisdiction and it does not extradite him
pursuant to article 8 to any of the States mentioned in paragraph I of this article.
3. This Convention does not exclude any criminal jurisdiction exercised in accordance with internal law.
Article 6
1. Upon being satisfied, after an examination of information available to it, that the circumstances so warrant, any State
Party in whose territory a person alleged to have committed any offence referred to in article 4 is present shall take him
into custody or take other legal measures to ensure his presence. The custody and other legal measures shall be as
provided in the law of that State but may be continued only for such time as is necessary to enable any criminal or
extradition proceedings to be instituted.
2. Such State shall immediately make a preliminary inquiry into the facts.
3. Any person in custody pursuant to paragraph I of this article shall be assisted in communicating immediately with the 2. States Parties shall carry out their obligations under paragraph I of this article in conformity with any treaties on
nearest appropriate representative of the State of which he is a national, or, if he is a stateless person, with the mutual judicial assistance that may exist between them.
representative of the State where he usually resides.
Article 10
4. When a State, pursuant to this article, has taken a person into custody, it shall immediately notify the States referred
1. Each State Party shall ensure that education and information regarding the prohibition against torture are fully
to in article 5, paragraph 1, of the fact that such person is in custody and of the circumstances which warrant his
included in the training of law enforcement personnel, civil or military, medical personnel, public officials and other
detention. The State which makes the preliminary inquiry contemplated in paragraph 2 of this article shall promptly
persons who may be involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of
report its findings to the said States and shall indicate whether it intends to exercise jurisdiction.
arrest, detention or imprisonment.
Article 7
2. Each State Party shall include this prohibition in the rules or instructions issued in regard to the duties and functions
1. The State Party in the territory under whose jurisdiction a person alleged to have committed any offence referred to of any such person.
in article 4 is found shall in the cases contemplated in article 5, if it does not extradite him, submit the case to its
Article 11
competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution.
Each State Party shall keep under systematic review interrogation rules, instructions, methods and practices as well as
2. These authorities shall take their decision in the same manner as in the case of any ordinary offence of a serious arrangements for the custody and treatment of persons subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment in
nature under the law of that State. In the cases referred to in article 5, paragraph 2, the standards of evidence required any territory under its jurisdiction, with a view to preventing any cases of torture.
for prosecution and conviction shall in no way be less stringent than those which apply in the cases referred to in article Article 12
5, paragraph 1.
Each State Party shall ensure that its competent authorities proceed to a prompt and impartial investigation, wherever
3. Any person regarding whom proceedings are brought in connection with any of the offences referred to in article 4 there is reasonable ground to believe that an act of torture has been committed in any territory under its jurisdiction.
shall be guaranteed fair treatment at all stages of the proceedings.
Article 13
Article 8 Each State Party shall ensure that any individual who alleges he has been subjected to torture in any territory under its
jurisdiction has the right to complain to, and to have his case promptly and impartially examined by, its competent
1. The offences referred to in article 4 shall be deemed to be included as extraditable offences in any extradition treaty
authorities. Steps shall be taken to ensure that the complainant and witnesses are protected against all ill-treatment or
existing between States Parties. States Parties undertake to include such offences as extraditable offences in every intimidation as a consequence of his complaint or any evidence given.
extradition treaty to be concluded between them.
Article 14
2. If a State Party which makes extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty receives a request for extradition
1. Each State Party shall ensure in its legal system that the victim of an act of torture obtains redress and has an
from another State Party with which it has no extradition treaty, it may consider this Convention as the legal basis for
enforceable right to fair and adequate compensation, including the means for as full rehabilitation as possible. In the
extradition in respect of such offences. Extradition shall be subject to the other conditions provided by the law of the
event of the death of the victim as a result of an act of torture, his dependants shall be entitled to compensation.
requested State.
2. Nothing in this article shall affect any right of the victim or other persons to compensation which may exist under
3. States Parties which do not make extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty shall recognize such offences as
national law.
extraditable offences between themselves subject to the conditions provided by the law of the requested State.
Article 15
4. Such offences shall be treated, for the purpose of extradition between States Parties, as if they had been committed
not only in the place in which they occurred but also in the territories of the States required to establish their jurisdiction Each State Party shall ensure that any statement which is established to have been made as a result of torture shall not
be invoked as evidence in any proceedings, except against a person accused of torture as evidence that the statement
in accordance with article 5, paragraph 1.
was made.
Article 9
Article 16
1. States Parties shall afford one another the greatest measure of assistance in connection with criminal proceedings
1. Each State Party shall undertake to prevent in any territory under its jurisdiction other acts of cruel, inhuman or
brought in respect of any of the offences referred to in article 4, including the supply of all evidence at their disposal
degrading treatment or punishment which do not amount to torture as defined in article I, when such acts are
necessary for the proceedings.
committed by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in
an official capacity. In particular, the obligations contained in articles 10, 11, 12 and 13 shall apply with the substitution
for references to torture of references to other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
2. The provisions of this Convention are without prejudice to the provisions of any other international instrument or
national law which prohibits cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment or which relates to extradition or
expulsion.
PART II
Article 17
1. There shall be established a Committee against Torture (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) which shall carry
out the functions hereinafter provided. The Committee shall consist of ten experts of high moral standing and
recognized competence in the field of human rights, who shall serve in their personal capacity. The experts shall be
elected by the States Parties, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution and to the usefulness of
the participation of some persons having legal experience.
2. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list of persons nominated by States Parties.
Each State Party may nominate one person from among its own nationals. States Parties shall bear in mind the
usefulness of nominating persons who are also members of the Human Rights Committee established under the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and who are willing to serve on the Committee against Torture.
3. Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at biennial meetings of States Parties convened by the
Secretary-General of the United Nations. At those meetings, for which two thirds of the States Parties shall constitute
a quorum, the persons elected to the Committee shall be those who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute
majority of the votes of the representatives of States Parties present and voting.
4. The initial election shall be held no later than six months after the date of the entry into force of this Convention. At.
Ieast four months before the date of each election, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address a letter
to the States Parties inviting them to submit their nominations within three months. The Secretary-General shall
prepare a list in alphabetical order of all persons thus nominated, indicating the States Parties which have nominated
them, and shall submit it to the States Parties.
5. The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years. They shall be eligible for re-election if
renominated. However, the term of five of the members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years;
immediately after the first election the names of these five members shall be chosen by lot by the chairman of the
meeting referred to in paragraph 3 of this article.
6. If a member of the Committee dies or resigns or for any other cause can no longer perform his Committee duties,
the State Party which nominated him shall appoint another expert from among its nationals to serve for the remainder
of his term, subject to the approval of the majority of the States Parties. The approval shall be considered given unless
half or more of the States Parties respond negatively within six weeks after having been informed by the Secretary-
General of the United Nations of the proposed appointment.
7. States Parties shall be responsible for the expenses of the members of the Committee while they are in performance
of Committee duties.
Article 18
1. The Committee shall elect its officers for a term of two years. They may be re-elected.
2. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure, but these rules shall provide, inter alia, that:
(a) Six members shall constitute a quorum;
(b) Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a majority vote of the members present.
3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary staff and facilities for the effective
performance of the functions of the Committee under this Convention.
4. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene the initial meeting of the Committee. After its initial
meeting, the Committee shall meet at such times as shall be provided in its rules of procedure.
5. The States Parties shall be responsible for expenses incurred in connection with the holding of meetings of the States
Parties and of the Committee, including reimbursement to the United Nations for any expenses, such as the cost of staff
and facilities, incurred by the United Nations pursuant to paragraph 3 of this article.
Article 19
1. The States Parties shall submit to the Committee, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, reports on
the measures they have taken to give effect to their undertakings under this Convention, within one year after the entry
into force of the Convention for the State Party concerned. Thereafter the States Parties shall submit supplementary
reports every four years on any new measures taken and such other reports as the Committee may request.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit the reports to all States Parties.
3. Each report shall be considered by the Committee which may make such general comments on the report as it may
consider appropriate and shall forward these to the State Party concerned. That State Party may respond with any
observations it chooses to the Committee.
4. The Committee may, at its discretion, decide to include any comments made by it in accordance with paragraph 3 of
this article, together with the observations thereon received from the State Party concerned, in its annual report made
in accordance with article 24. If so requested by the State Party concerned, the Committee may also include a copy of
the report submitted under paragraph I of this article.
Article 20
1. If the Committee receives reliable information which appears to it to contain well-founded indications that torture is
being systematically practised in the territory of a State Party, the Committee shall invite that State Party to co-operate
in the examination of the information and to this end to submit observations with regard to the information concerned.
2. Taking into account any observations which may have been submitted by the State Party concerned, as well as any
other relevant information available to it, the Committee may, if it decides that this is warranted, designate one or more
of its members to make a confidential inquiry and to report to the Committee urgently.
3. If an inquiry is made in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article, the Committee shall seek the co-operation of the
State Party concerned. In agreement with that State Party, such an inquiry may include a visit to its territory.
4. After examining the findings of its member or members submitted in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article, the
Commission shall transmit these findings to the State Party concerned together with any comments or suggestions
which seem appropriate in view of the situation.
5. All the proceedings of the Committee referred to in paragraphs I to 4 of th is article s hall be con fidential , and at all
stages of the proceedings the co-operation of the State Party shall be sought. After such proceedings have been
completed with regard to an inquiry made in accordance with paragraph 2, the Committee may, after consultations
with the State Party concerned, decide to include a summary account of the results of the proceedings in its annual
report made in accordance with article 24.
Article 21
1. A State Party to this Convention may at any time declare under this article that it recognizes the competence of the
Committee to receive and consider communications to the effect that a State Party claims that another State Party is
not fulfilling its obligations under this Convention. Such communications may be received and considered according to
the procedures laid down in this article only if submitted by a State Party which has made a declaration recognizing in
regard to itself the competence of the Committee. No communication shall be dealt with by the Committee under this
article if it concerns a State Party which has not made such a declaration. Communications received under this article
shall be dealt with in accordance with the following procedure;
(a) If a State Party considers that another State Party is not giving effect to the provisions ofthis Convention, it may, by
written communication, bring the matter to the attention of that State Party. Within three months after the receipt of
the communication the receiving State shall afford the State which sent the communication an explanation or any other
statement in writing clarifying the matter, which should include, to the extent possible and pertinent, reference to
domestic procedures and remedies taken, pending or available in the matter;
(b) If the matter is not adjusted to the satisfaction of both States Parties concerned within six months after the receipt
by the receiving State of the initial communication, either State shall have the right to refer the matter to the
Committee, by notice given to the Committee and to the other State;
(c) The Committee shall deal with a matter referred to it under this article only after it has ascertained that all domestic
remedies have been invoked and exhausted in the matter, in conformity with the generally recognized principles of
international law. This shall not be the rule where the application of the remedies is unreasonably prolonged or is
unlikely to bring effective relief to the person who is the victim of the violation of this Convention;
(d) The Committee shall hold closed meetings when examining communications under this article; (e) Subject to the
provisions of subparagraph
(e), the Committee shall make available its good offices to the States Parties concerned with a view to a friendly solution
of the matter on the basis of respect for the obligations provided for in this Convention. For this purpose, the Committee
may, when appropriate, set up an ad hoc conciliation commission;
(f) In any matter referred to it under this article, the Committee may call upon the States Parties concerned, referred
to in subparagraph (b), to supply any relevant information;
(g) The States Parties concerned, referred to in subparagraph (b), shall have the right to be represented when the matter
is being considered by the Committee and to make submissions orally and/or in writing;
(h) The Committee shall, within twelve months after the date of receipt of notice under subparagraph (b), submit a
report:
(i) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (e) is reached, the Committee shall confine its report to a brief
statement of the facts and of the solution reached;
(ii) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (e) is not reached, the Committee shall confine its report to a brief
statement of the facts; the written submissions and record of the oral submissions made by the States Parties concerned
shall be attached to the report.
In every matter, the report shall be communicated to the States Parties concerned.
2. The provisions of this article shall come into force when five States Parties to this Convention have made declarations
under paragraph 1 of this article. Such declarations shall be deposited by the States Parties with the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, who shall transmit copies thereof to the other States Parties. A declaration may be withdrawn at
any time by notification to the Secretary-General. Such a withdrawal shall not prejudice the consideration of any matter
which is the subject of a communication already transmitted under this article; no further communication by any State
Party shall be received under this article after the notification of withdrawal of the declaration has been received by
the Secretary-General, unless the State Party concerned has made a new declaration.
Article 22
1. A State Party to this Convention may at any time declare under this article that it recognizes the competence of the
Committee to receive and consider communications from or on behalf of individuals subject to its jurisdiction who claim
to be victims of a violation by a State Party of the provisions of the Convention. No communication shall be received by
the Committee if it concerns a State Party which has not made such a declaration.
2. The Committee shall consider inadmissible any communication under this article which is anonymous or which it
considers to be an abuse of the right of submission of such communications or to be incompatible with the provisions
of this Convention.
3. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2, the Committee shall bring any communications submitted to it under this
article to the attention of the State Party to this Convention which has made a declaration under paragraph I and is
alleged to be violating any provisions of the Convention. Within six months, the receiving State shall submit to the
Committee written explanations or statements clarifying the matter and the remedy, if any, that may have been taken
by that State.
4. The Committee shall consider communications received under this article in the light of all information made available
to it by or on behalf of the individual and by the State Party concerned. 5. The Committee shall not consider any
communications from an individual under this article unless it has ascertained that:
(a) The same matter has not been, and is not being, examined under another procedure of international investigation
or settlement;
(b) The individual has exhausted all available domestic remedies; this shall not be the rule where the application of the
remedies is unreasonably prolonged or is unlikely to bring effective reliefto the person who is the victim of the violation
of this Convention.
6. The Committee shall hold closed meetings when examining communications under this article.
7. The Committee shall forward its views to the State Party concerned and to the individual.
8. The provisions of this article shall come into force when five States Parties to this Convention have made declarations
under paragraph 1 of this article. Such declarations shall be deposited by the States Parties with the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, who shall transmit copies thereof to the other States Parties. A declaration may be withdrawn at
any time by notification to the Secretary-General. Such a withdrawal shall not prejudice the consideration of any matter
which is the subject of a communication already transmitted under this article; no further communication by or on
behalf of an individual shall be received under this article after the notification of withdrawal of the declaration has
been received by the SecretaryGeneral, unless the State Party has made a new declaration.
Article 23
The members of the Committee and of the ad hoc conciliation commissions which may be appointed under article 21,
paragraph I (e), shall be entitled to the facilities, privileges and immunities of experts on mission for the United Nations
as laid down in the relevant sections of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
Article 24
The Committee shall submit an annual report on its activities under this Convention to the States Parties and to the
General Assembly of the United Nations.
PART III
Article 25
1. This Convention is open for signature by all States. 2. This Convention is subject to ratification. Instruments of
ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Article 26
This Convention is open to accession by all States. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of
accession with the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations.
Article 27
1. This Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of
the United Nations of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession.
2. For each State ratifying this Convention or acceding to it after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification
or accession, the Convention shall enter into force onthe thirtieth day after the date of the deposit of its own instrument
of ratification or accession.
Article 28
1. Each State may, at the time of signature or ratification of this Convention or accession thereto, declare that it does
not recognize the competence of the Committee provided for in article 20.
2. Any State Party having made a reservation in accordance with paragraph I of this article may, at any time, withdraw
this reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Article 29
1 . Any State Party to this Convention may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United
Nations. The SecretaryGeneral shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties with a
request that they notify him whether they favour a conference of States Parties for the purpose of considering an d
voting upon the proposal. In the event that within four months from the date of such communication at least one third
of the States Parties favours such a conference, the SecretaryGeneral shall convene the conference under the auspices
of the United Nations. Any amendment adopted by a majority of the States Parties present and voting at the conference
shall be submitted by the Secretary-General to all the States Parties for acceptance.
2. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph I of this article shall enter into force when two thirds of the
States Parties to this Convention have notified the Secretary-General of the United Nations that they have accepted it
in accordance with their respective constitutional processes.
3. When amendments enter into force, they shall be binding on those States Parties which have accepted them, other
States Parties still being bound by the provisions of this Convention and any earlier amendments which they have
accepted.
Article 30
1. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention
which cannot be settled through negotiation shall, at the request of one of them, be submitted to arbitration. If within
six months from thc date of the request for arbitration the Parties are unable to agree on the organization of the
arbitration, any one of those Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in conformity
with the Statute of the Court.
2. Each State may, at the time of signature or ratification of this Con vention or accession thereto, declare that it does
not consider itself bound by paragraph I of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph I of this
article with respect to any State Party having made such a reservation.
3. Any State Party having made a reservation in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article may at any time withdraw
this reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 31

1. A State Party may denounce this Convention by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Denunciation becomes effective one year after the date of receipt of- the notification by the Secretary-General .

2. Such a denunciation shall not have the effect of releasing the State Party from its obligations under this Convention
in regard to any act or omission which occurs prior to the date at which the denunciation becomes effective, nor shall
denunciation prejudice in any way the continued consideration of any matter which is already under consideration by
the Committee prior to the date at which the denunciation becomes effective.

3. Following the date at which the denunciation of a State Party becomes effective, the Committee shall not commence
consideration of any new matter regarding that State.

Article 32
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States Members of the United Nations and all States which
have signed this Convention or acceded to it of the following:

(a) Signatures, ratifications and accessions under articles 25 and 26;

(b) The date of entry into force of this Convention under article 27 and the date of the entry into force of any
amendments under article 29;

(c) Denunciations under article 31.

Article 33

1. This Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall
be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit certified copies of this Convention to all States.
REPUBLIC ACT N0. 9745
AN ACT PENALIZING TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN AND DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT AND
PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Ad shall be known as the "Anti-Torture Act of 2009".
Section 2. Statement of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State:
(a) To value the dignity of every human person and guarantee full respect for human rights;
(b) To ensure that the human rights of all persons, including suspects, detainees and prisoners are respected at all
times; and that no person placed under investigation or held in custody of any person in authority or, agent of a
person authority shall be subjected to physical, psychological or mental harm, force, violence, threat or intimidation
or any act that impairs his/her free wi11 or in any manner demeans or degrades human dignity;
(c) To ensure that secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado or other similar forms of detention, where torture
may be carried out with impunity, are prohibited; and
(d) To fully adhere to the principles and standards on the absolute condemnation and prohibition of torture as
provided for in the 1987 Philippine Constitution; various international instruments to which the Philippines is a State
party such as, but not limited to, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention on
the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDA
W) and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT); and
all other relevant international human rights instruments to which the Philippines is a signatory.
Section 3. Definitions. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:
(a) "Torture" refers to an act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted
on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him/her or a third person information or a confession; punishing
him/her for an act he/she or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed; or intimidating or
coercing him/her or a third person; or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering
is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a person in authority or agent of a person
in authority. It does not include pain or Buffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.
(b) "Other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment" refers to a deliberate and aggravated treatment
or punishment not enumerated under Section 4 of this Act, inflicted by a person in authority or agent of a person in
authority against a person under his/her custody, which attains a level of severity causing suffering, gross humiliation
or debasement to the latter.
(c) "Victim" refers to the person subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment
as defined above and any individual who has suffered harm as a result of any act(s) of torture, or other cruel, inhuman
and degrading treatment or punishment.
(d) "Order of Battle" refers to any document or determination made by the military, police or any law enforcement
agency of the government, listing the names of persons and organizations that it perceives to be enemies of the State
and that it considers as legitimate targets as combatants that it could deal with, through the use of means allowed
by domestic and international law.
Section 4. Acts of Torture. - For purposes of this Act, torture shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Physical torture is a form of treatment or punishment inflicted by a person in authority or agent of a person in
authority upon another in his/her custody that causes severe pain, exhaustion, disability or dysfunction of one or
more parts of the body, such as:
(1) Systematic beating, headbanging, punching, kicking, striking with truncheon or rifle butt or other similar
objects, and jumping on the stomach;
(2) Food deprivation or forcible feeding with spoiled food, animal or human excreta and other stuff or substances
not normally eaten;
(3) Electric shock;
(4) Cigarette burning; burning by electrically heated rods, hot oil, acid; by the rubbing of pepper or other chemical
substances on mucous membranes, or acids or spices directly on the wound(s);
(5) The submersion of the head in water or water polluted with excrement, urine, vomit and/or blood until the
brink of suffocation;
(6) Being tied or forced to assume fixed and stressful bodily position;
(7) Rape and sexual abuse, including the insertion of foreign objects into the sex organ or rectum, or electrical
torture of the genitals;
(8) Mutilation or amputation of the essential parts of the body such as the genitalia, ear, tongue, etc.;
(9) Dental torture or the forced extraction of the teeth;
(10) Pulling out of fingernails;
(11) Harmful exposure to the elements such as sunlight and extreme cold;
(12) The use of plastic bag and other materials placed over the head to the point of asphyxiation;
(13) The use of psychoactive drugs to change the perception, memory. alertness or will of a person, such as:
(i) The administration or drugs to induce confession and/or reduce mental competency; or
(ii) The use of drugs to induce extreme pain or certain symptoms of a disease; and
(14) Other analogous acts of physical torture; and
(b) "Mental/Psychological Torture" refers to acts committed by a person in authority or agent of a person in authority
which are calculated to affect or confuse the mind and/or undermine a person's dignity and morale, such as:
(1) Blindfolding;
(2) Threatening a person(s) or his/fher relative(s) with bodily harm, execution or other wrongful acts;
(3) Confinement in solitary cells or secret detention places;
(4) Prolonged interrogation;
(5) Preparing a prisoner for a "show trial", public display or public humiliation of a detainee or prisoner;
(6) Causing unscheduled transfer of a person deprived of liberty from one place to another, creating the belief that
he/she shall be summarily executed;
(7) Maltreating a member/s of a person's family;
 (8) Causing the torture sessions to be witnessed by the person's family, relatives or any third party;
(9) Denial of sleep/rest;
(10) Shame infliction such as stripping the person naked, parading him/her in public places, shaving the victim's
head or putting marks on his/her body against his/her will;
(11) Deliberately prohibiting the victim to communicate with any member of his/her family; and
(12) Other analogous acts of mental/psychological torture.
Section 5. Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. - Other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment refers to a deliberate and aggravated treatment or punishment not enumerated under
Section 4 of this Act, inflicted by a person in authority or agent of a person in authority against another person in
custody, which attains a level of severity sufficient to cause suffering, gross humiliation or debasement to the latter.
The assessment of the level of severity shall depend on all the circumstances of the case, including the duration of the
treatment or punishment, its physical and mental effects and, in some cases, the sex, religion, age and state of health
of the victim.
Section 6. Freedom from Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, An Absolute Bight.
- Torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment as criminal acts shall apply to all
circumstances. A state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability, or any other public emergency, or a
document or any determination comprising an "order of battle" shall not and can never be invoked as a justification for
torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.
Section 7. Prohibited Detention. - Secret detention places, solitary confinement, incommunicado or other similar forms
of detention, where torture may be carried out with impunity. Are hereby prohibited.
In which case, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other law
enforcement. agencies concerned shall make an updated list of all detention centers and facilities under their respective
jurisdictions with the corresponding data on the prisoners or detainees incarcerated or detained therein such as, among
others, names, date of arrest and incarceration, and the crime or offense committed. This list shall be made available
to the public at all times, with a copy of the complete list available at the respective national headquarters of the PNP
and AFP. A copy of the complete list shall likewise be submitted by the PNP, AFP and all other law enforcement agencies
to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), such list to be periodically updated, by the same agencies, within the first
five (5) days of every month at the minimum. Every regional office of the PNP, AFP and other law enforcement agencies
shall also maintain a similar list far all detainees and detention facilities within their respective areas, and shall make
the same available to the public at all times at their respective regional headquarters, and submit a copy. updated in
the same manner provided above, to the respective regional offices of the CHR.
Section 8. Applicability of the Exclusionary Rule; Exception. - Any confession, admission or statement obtained as a result
of torture shall be inadmissible in evidence in any proceedings, except if the same is used as evidence against a person
or persons accused of committing torture.
Section 9. Institutional Protection of Torture Victims and Other Persons Involved. - A victim of torture shall have the
following rights in the institution of a criminal complaint for torture:
(a) To have a prompt and an impartial investigation by the CHR and by agencies of government concerned such as
the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), the PNP, the National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI) and the AFP. A prompt investigation shall mean a maximum period of sixty (60) working days from the time a
complaint for torture is filed within which an investigation report and/or resolution shall be completed and made
available. An appeal whenever available shall be resolved within the same period prescribed herein,
(b) To have sufficient government protection against all forms of harassment; threat and/or intimidation as a
consequence of the filing of said complaint or the presentation of evidence therefor. In which case, the State through
its appropriate agencies shall afford security in order to ensure his/her safety and all other persons involved in the
investigation and prosecution such as, but not limited to, his/her lawyer, witnesses and relatives; and
(c) To be accorded sufficient protection in the manner by which he/she testifies and presents evidence in any fora in
order to avoid further trauma.
Section 10. Disposition of Writs of Habeas Corpus, Amparo and Habeas Data Proceedings and Compliance with a Judicial
07'der. - A writ of habeas corpus or writ of amparo or writ of habeas data proceeding, if any, filed on behalf of the victim
of torture or other cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment or punishment shall be disposed of expeditiously and any
order of release by virtue thereof, or other appropriate order of a court relative thereto, shall be executed or complied
with immediately.
Section 11. Assistance in Filing a Complaint. - The CHR and the PAO shall render legal assistance in the investigation and
monitoring and/or filing of the complaint for a person who suffers torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading
treatment or punishment, or for any interested party thereto.
The victim or interested party may also seek legal assistance from the Barangay Human Rights Action Center (BRRAC)
nearest him/her as well as from human rights nongovernment organizations (NGOs).
Section 12. Right to' Physical, Medical and Psychological Examination. - Before and after interrogation, every person
arrested, detained or under custodial investigation shall have the right to he informed of his/her right to demand
physical examination by an independent and competent doctor of his/her own choice. If such person cannot afford the
services of his/her own doctor, he/she shall he provided by the State with a competent and independent doctor to
conduct physical examination. The State shall endeavor to provide the victim with psychological evaluation if available
under the circumstances. If the person arrested is a female, she shall be attended to preferably by a female doctor.
Furthermore, any person arrested, detained or under custodial investigation, including his/her immediate family, shall
have the right to immediate access to proper and adequate medical treatment. The physical examination and/or
psychological evaluation of the victim shall be contained in a medical report, duly signed by the attending physician,
which shall include in detail his/her medical history and findings, and which shall he attached to the custodial
investigation report. Such report shall be considered a public document.
Following applicable protocol agreed upon by agencies tasked to conduct physical, psychological and mental
examinations, the medical reports shall, among others, include:
(a) The name, age and address of the patient or victim;
(b) The name and address of the nearest kin of the patient or victim;
(c) The name and address of the person who brought the patient or victim for physical, psychological and mental
examination, and/or medical treatment;
(d) The nature and probable cause of the patient or victim's injury, pain and disease and/or trauma;
(e) The approximate time and date when the injury, pain, disease and/or trauma was/were sustained;
(f) The place where the injury, pain, disease and/or trauma was/were sustained;
(g) The time, date and nature of treatment necessary; and
(h) The diagnosis, the prognosis and/or disposition of the patient.
Any person who does not wish to avail of the rights under this pr<;lvision may knowingly and voluntarily waive such
rights in writing, executed in the presence and assistance of his/her counsel.
Section 13. Who are Criminally Liable. - Any person who actually participated Or induced another in the commission of
torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment or who cooperated in the execution of the act
of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment by previous or simultaneous acts shall be
liable as principal
Any superior military, police or law enforcement officer or senior government official who issued an order to any lower
ranking personnel to commit torture for whatever purpose shall be held equally liable as principals.
The immediate commanding officer of the unit concerned of the AFP or the immediate senior public official of the PNP
and other law enforcement agencies shall be held liable as a principal to the crime of torture or other cruel or inhuman
and degrading treatment or punishment for any act or omission, or negligence committed by him/her that shall have
led, assisted, abetted or allowed, whether directly or indirectly, the commission thereof by his/her subordinates. If
he/she has knowledge of or, owing to the circumstances at the time, should have known that acts of torture or other
cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment shall be committed, is being committed, or has been committed
by his/her subordinates or by others within his/her area of responsibility and, despite such knowledge, did not take
preventive or corrective action either before, during or immediately after its commission, when he/she has the
authority to prevent or investigate allegations of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or
punishment but failed to prevent or investigate allegations of such act, whether deliberately or due to negligence shall
also be liable as principals.
Any public officer or employee shall be liable as an accessory if he/she has knowledge that torture or other cruel,
inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment is being committed and without having participated therein, either
as principal or accomplice, takes part subsequent to its commission in any of the following manner:
(a) By themselves profiting from or assisting the offender to profit from the effects of the act of torture or other
cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment;
(b) By concealing the act of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment and/or
destroying the effects or instruments thereof in order to prevent its discovery; or(c) By harboring, concealing or
assisting m the escape of the principal/s in the act of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or
punishment: Provided, That the accessory acts are done with the abuse of the official's public functions.
Section 14. Penalties. - (a) The penalty of reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon the perpetrators of the following
acts:
(1) Torture resulting in the death of any person;
(2) Torture resulting in mutilation;
(3) Torture with rape;
(4) Torture with other forms of sexual abuse and, in consequence of torture, the victim shall have become insane,
imbecile, impotent, blind or maimed for life; and
(5) Torture committed against children.
(b) The penalty of reclusion temporal shall be imposed on those who commit any act of mental/psychological torture
resulting in insanity, complete or partial amnesia, fear of becoming insane or suicidal tendencies of the victim due to
guilt, worthlessness or shame.
(c) The penalty of prision correccional shall be imposed on those who commit any act of torture resulting in
psychological, mental and emotional harm other than those described 1n paragraph (b) of this section. '
(d) The penalty of prision mayor in its medium and maximum periods shall be imposed if, in consequence of torture,
the victim shall have lost the power of speech or the power to hear or to smell; or shall have lost an eye, a hand, a
foot, an arm or a leg; or shall have lost the use of any such member; Or shall have become permanently incapacitated
for labor.
(e) The penalty of prision mayor in its minimum and medium periods shall be imposed if, in consequence of torture,
the victim shall have become deformed or shall have lost any part of his/her body other than those aforecited, or
shall have lost the use thereof, or shall have been ill or incapacitated for labor for a period of more than ninety (90)
days.
(f) The penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period to prision mayor in its minimum period shall be imposed
if, in consequence of torture, the victim shall have been ill or incapacitated for labor for mare than thirty (30) days
but not more than ninety (90) days.
(g) The penalty of prision correccional in its minimum and medium period shall be imposed if, in consequence of
torture, the victim shall have been ill or incapacitated for labor for thirty (30) days or less.
(h) The penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed for acts constituting cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment as defined in Section 5 of this Act.
(i) The penalty of prision correccional shall be imposed upon those who establish, operate and maintain secret
detention places and/or effect or cause to effect solitary confinement, incommunicado or other similar forms of
prohibited detention as provided in Section 7 of this Act where torture may be carried out with impunity.
(j) The penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed upon the responsible officers or personnel of the AFP, the PNP and
other law enforcement agencies for failure to perform his/her duty to maintain, submit or make available to the
public an updated list of detention centers and facilities with the corresponding data on the prisoners or detainees
incarcerated or detained therein, pursuant to Section 7 of this Act.
Section 15. Torture as a Separate and Independent Crime. - Torture as a crime shall not absorb or shall not be absorbed
by any other crime or felony committed as a consequence, or as a means in the conduct or commission thereof. In
which case, torture shall be treated as a separate and independent criminal act whose penalties shall be imposable
without prejudice to any other criminal liability provided for by domestic and international laws.
Section 16. Exclusion from the Coverage of Special Amnesty Law. - In order not to depreciate the crime of torture,
persons who have committed any act of torture shall not benefit from any special amnesty law or similar measures that
will have the effect of exempting them from any criminal proceedings and sanctions.
Section 17. Applicability of Refouler. - No person shall be expelled, returned or extradited to another State where there
are substantial grounds to believe that such person shall be in danger of being subjected to torture. For the purposes
of determining whether such grounds exist, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Secretary
of the DOJ, in coordination with the Chairperson of the CHR, shall take into account all relevant considerations including,
where applicable and not limited to, the existence in the requesting State of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or
mass violations of human rights.
Section 18. Compensation to Victims of Torture. - Any person who has suffered torture shall have the right to claim for
compensation as provided for under Republic Act No. 7309: Provided, That in no case shall compensation be any lower
than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00). Victims of torture shall also have the right to claim for compensation from such
other financial relief programs that may be made available to him/her under existing law and rules and regulations.
Section 19. Formulation of a Rehabilitation Program. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the DOJ and the Department of Health (DOH) and such other
concerned government agencies, and human rights organizations shall formulate a comprehensive rehabilitation
program for victims of torture and their families. The DSWD, the DOJ and thc DOH shall also call on human rights
nongovernment organizations duly recognized by the government to actively participate in the formulation of such
program that shall provide for the physical, mental, social, psychological healing and development of victims of torture
and their families. Toward the attainment of restorative justice, a parallel rehabilitation program for persons who have
committed torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment shall likewise be formulated by the same
agencies.
Section 20. Monitoring of Compliance with this Act. - An Oversight Committee is hereby created to periodically oversee
the implementation of this Act. The Committee shall be headed by a Commissioner of the CRR, with the following as
members: the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, the respective Chairpersons of the
House of Representatives' Committees on Justice and Human Rights, and the Minority Leaders of both houses or their
respective representatives in the minority.

Section 21. Education and Information Campaign. - The CHR, the DOJ, the Department of National Defense (DND), the
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and such other concerned parties in both the public and
private sectors shall ensure that education and information regarding prohibition against torture and other cruel,
inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment shall be fully included in the training of law enforcement personnel,
civil or military, medical personnel, public officials and other persons who may be involved in the custody, interrogation
or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment. The Department of
Education (DepED) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall also ensure the integration of human rights
education courses in all primary, secondary and tertiary level academic institutions nationwide.

Section 22. Applicability of the Revised Penal Code. - The provisions of the Revised Penal Code insofar as they are
applicable shall be suppletory to this Act. Moreover, if the commission of any crime punishable under Title Eight (Crimes
Against Persons) and Title Nine (Crimes Against Personal Liberty and Security) of the Revised Penal Code is attended by
any of the acts constituting torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment as defined herein,
the penalty to be imposed shall be in its maximum period.

Section 23. Appropriations. - The amount of Five million pesos (Php5,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to the CHR for
the initial implementation of tills Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOJ and the CHR, with the active participation of human rights
nongovernmental organizations, shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of tills Act.
They shall also ensure the full dissemination of such rules and regulations to all officers and members of various law
enforcement agencies.

Section 25. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 26. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 27. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Convention (IV) respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land and its annex: Regulations concerning
the Laws and Customs of War on Land. The Hague, 18 October 1907.

Art. 23. In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden:

(a) To employ poison or poisoned weapons;

(b) To kill or wound treacherously individuals belonging to the hostile nation or army;
(c) To kill or wound an enemy who, having laid down his arms, or having no longer means of defence, has
surrendered at discretion;
(d) To declare that no quarter will be given;
(e) To employ arms, projectiles, or material calculated to cause unnecessary suffering;
(f) To make improper use of a flag of truce, of the national flag or of the military insignia and uniform of the
enemy, as well as the distinctive badges of the Geneva Convention;
(g) To destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by
the necessities of war;
(h) To declare abolished, suspended, or inadmissible in a court of law the rights and actions of the nationals of
the hostile party. A belligerent is likewise forbidden to compel the nationals of the hostile party to take part in
the operations of war directed against their own country, even if they were in the belligerent's service before
the commencement of the war.