A.

Reis Monteiro
A Chronology of Human Rights
(and other related events, until 2017) 1

18th BC Code of Hammurabi (Babylon)

13th BC Biblical Decalogue
6th BC Cyrus Charter (Persian)
1215 Magna Carta or The Great Charter of Liberties of England
1628 Petition of Rights
1679 Habeas Corpus Act (England)
1689 Bill of Rights (England)
1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights (USA)
American Declaration of Independence
1789 Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen (France)
1791 First Ten Amendments to the United States Constitution (Bill of Rights)
1792 A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (Mary Wollstonecraft)
1809 Ombudsman institution in Sweden
1833 Abolition Act, ending slavery in the British Empire
1863 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln, abolishing
slavery in the USA
1864 First Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the
Wounded in Armies in the Field
1865 Abolition of slavery in the USA by the Thirteenth Amendment
1885 Antislavery Act (Berlin Conference on Africa)
1890 Antislavery Act (Brussels Conference)
1898 League of Human Rights (France), created following the Dreyfus Affaire

1 For a thorough Human Rights Timeline see, for instance, the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project:
[Link]/~erpapers/humanrights/timeline.
For an almost complete list of human rights international instruments, see Human Rights: A Compilation of
International Instruments – Universal Instruments (United Nations, 2003).
See also: [Link]
1899/1907 The Hague Conventions on the Laws of War
1914-1918 World War I
1917 Russian Revolution
Constitution of the Mexican United States
1918 Declaration of Rights of the Working and Exploited People (USSR)
1919 League of Nations (Versailles, France)
International Labour Organisation (ILO), within the framework of the
Covenant of the League of Nations
Constitution of Weimar (Germany)
1922 Permanent Court of International Justice
1924 Declaration of the Rights of the Child (Geneva Declaration)
1926 Slavery Convention (Convention to Suppress the Slave Trade and Slavery,
League of Nations)
1929 Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
(Diplomatic Conference)
1930 Convention Concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour (ILO)
1939-1945 World War II
1941 ‘Four Freedoms Speech’ by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
1943 United Nations War Crimes Commission
1944 Declaration of Philadelphia (ILO)
1945 Organisation of the United Nations (UN)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)
International Court of Justice
International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg
1946 United Nations Commission on Human Rights International Military
Tribunal at Tokyo
1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN)
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
(UN)
Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right
to Organise (ILO)
Organisation of American States (OAS, Bogota)
American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man (OAS)

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1949 Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the
Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (UN)
Geneva Convention (I) for the Amelioration of the Condition of the
Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field (Diplomatic Conference)
Geneva Convention (II) for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded,
Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea (Diplomatic
Conference)
Geneva Convention (III) Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
(Diplomatic Conference)
Geneva Convention (IV) Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in
Time of War (Diplomatic Conference)
Council of Europe
Grundgesetz (Basic Law/Constitution) of the Federal Republic of Germany
Chinese Revolution
1950 Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the
Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (UN)
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights, Council of Europe)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
10 December adopted as Human Rights Day by the United Nations General
Assembly
1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (UN)
Equal Remuneration Convention (ILO)
1953 Convention on the Political Rights of Women (UN)
Protocol amending the Slavery Convention (UN)
European Commission and European Court of Human Rights (Council of
Europe)
1954 Convention Relating to Status of Stateless Persons (UN)
European Cultural Convention (Council of Europe)
1955 Political and Civil Rights Movement in USA
1956 Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and
Institutions and Practices of Slavery (Geneva Conference of Plenipotentiaries
convened by the UN Economic and Social Council)

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1957 Convention on the Nationality of Married Women (UN)
Standard Rules for the Minimum Treatment of Prisoners (UN)
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (ILO)
1958 Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and
Occupation (ILO)
1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child (UN)
1960 Convention against Discrimination in Education (UNESCO)
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and
Peoples (UN)
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (OAS)
1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (UN)
Declaration on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear and Thermo-Nuclear
Weapons (UN)
European Social Charter (Council of Europe, revised in 1996)
Amnesty International
1962 Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and
Registration of Marriages (UN)
Protocol Instituting a Conciliation and Good Offices Commission to be
responsible for seeking a settlement of any disputes which may arise between
States Parties to the Convention against Discrimination in Education
(UNESCO)
1963 Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (UN)
Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
1965 International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial
Discrimination (UN)
Recommendation on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and
Registration of Marriages (UN)
Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual
Respect and Understanding between Peoples (UN)
1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, with an Optional
Protocol (UN)
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (UN)
Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees (UN)
1967 Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (UN)
Declaration on Territorial Asylum (UN)

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1968 Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes
and Crimes against Humanity (UN)
Proclamation of Tehran (First World Conference on Human Rights)
1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (UN)
Declaration on Social Progress and Development (UN)
American Convention on Human Rights (OAS)
Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa
(OUA)
1970 Declaration of Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations
and Co-operation Among States in Accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations (UN)
1971 Declaration of the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons (UN)
1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage (UNESCO)
Stockholm Declaration (UN Conference on the Environment)
1973 International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime
of Apartheid (UN)
Principles of international co-operation in the detection, arrest, extradition
and punishment of persons guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity
(UN)
Minimum Age Convention (ILO)
1974 Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order
(UN)
Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States (UN)
Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and
Armed Conflict (UN)
Recommendation concerning Education for International Understanding,
Co-operation and Peace and Education relating to Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms (UNESCO)
1975 Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons (UN)
Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
(UN)
Declaration on the Use of Scientific and Technological Progress in the
Interests of Peace and for the Benefit of Mankind (UN)
International Declaration against Apartheid in Sports (UN)
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 World Conference of the International Women’s Year (First World
Conference) (UN)
Final Act of the Helsinki Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
(CSCE)
1977 Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions Relative to the Protection
of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Diplomatic Conference)
Additional Protocol II to the Geneva Conventions Relative to the Protection
of Victims of Non-international Armed Conflicts (Diplomatic Conference)
Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (First United
Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of
Offenders)
1978 Declaration on the Preparation of Societies for Life in Peace (UN)
Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (UNESCO)
World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (UN)
Human Rights Watch
1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women (UN)
Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (UN)
Inter-American Court of Human Rights (OAS)
1980 Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (the first
Special Procedure of the UN Commission on Human Rights)
International Agreement for the Establishment of the University for Peace
and Charter of the University for Peace (UN)
World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality,
Development and Peace (2nd World Conference)
1981 Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of
Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (UN)
African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (OAU)
1982 Declaration on the Participation of Women in Promoting International Peace
and Co-operation (UN)
Principles of Medical Ethics relevant to the Role of Health Personnel,
particularly Physicians, in the Protection of Prisoners and Detainees against
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
(UN)
World Charter for Nature (UN)

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1983 Protocol Nº 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty
(Council of Europe)
Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination
(UN)
Charter on the Rights of the Arab Child (League of Arab States)
1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment (UN)
Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace (UN)
1985 International Convention against Apartheid in Sports (UN)
Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of
the Country in Which They Live (UN)
Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of
Power (UN)
Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary (UN Congress on the
Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders)
United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile
Justice (The Beijing Rules)
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (UN)
Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture (OAS)
1986 Declaration on the Right to Development (UN)
Declaration on Social and Legal Principles relating to the Protection and
Welfare of Children, with Special Reference to Foster Placement and
Adoption Nationally and Internationally (UN)
Limburg Principles on the Implementation of the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Group of International Experts in
International Law)
1987 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Council of Europe)
1988 Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of
Detention or Imprisonment (UN)
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the
area of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (known as the “Protocol of San
Salvador”) (OAS)
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (OAU)

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1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN)
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights Aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty (UN)
International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and
Training of Mercenaries (UN)
Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal,
Arbitrary and Summary Executions (United Nations Economic and Social
Council)
Convention on Technical and Vocational Education (UNESCO)
Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore
(UNESCO)
Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (ILO)
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Tiananmen Square Protests
1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant
Workers and Members of Their Families (UN)
United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (The
Riyadh Guidelines)
United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of Their
Liberty
Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (UN Congress on the Prevention of
Crime and the Treatment of Offenders)
Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors (UN Congress on the Prevention of
Crime and the Treatment of Offenders)
Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners (UN)
United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (The
Tokyo Rules) (UN)
Guidelines for the Regulation of Computerized Personal Data Files (UN)
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (OAU)
Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the
Death Penalty (OAS)
Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam (Islamic Conference)
Charter of Paris for a New Europe (CSCE)
Nelson Mandela released from prison after 27 years

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1991 United Nations Principles for Older Persons
Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and for the
Improvement of Mental Health Care (UN)
1992 Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic,
Religious and Linguistic Minorities (UN)
Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance
(UN)
European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (Council of Europe)
Treaty on European Union
Agreement establishing the Fund for the Development of the Indigenous
Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean (OEA)
1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (World Conference on
Human Rights)
Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (UN)
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities (UN)
Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions for the Promotion
and Protection of Human Rights (‘Paris Principles’) (UN)
Final Declaration of the Regional Meeting for Asia of the World Conference
on Human Rights (Bangkok Declaration)
Bangkok NGOs Declaration on Human Rights (Non-Governmental
Organisations)
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (UN Security
Council)
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR)
1994 Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication
of Violence Against Women “Convention of Belém do Pará” (OAS)
Arab Charter on Human Rights (League of Arab States)
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (UN Security Council)
International Conference on Population and Development (UN, Cairo)
1995 Declaration of Principles on Tolerance (UNESCO)
Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter Providing for a System
of Collective Complaints (Council of Europe)
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (Council
of Europe)

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 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), replacing
CSCE
World Summit for Social Development (UN, Copenhagen)
World Conference on Women (UN, Beijing)
1996 International Code of Conduct for Public Officials (UN)
Safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death
penalty (UN Economic and Social Council)
European Social Charter (Revised) (Council of Europe)
United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II, Istanbul)
1997 Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System (UN
Economic and Social Council)
Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights
(UNESCO)
Declaration on the Responsibilities of the Present Generations Towards
Future Generations (UNESCO)
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human
Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention
on Human Rights and Biomedicine (Council of Europe)
Universal Declaration on Democracy (Inter-Parliamentary Council)
Maastricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(Group of International Experts in International Law)
1998 Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and
Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (UN)
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Diplomatic Conference)
Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision and
Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aaharus Convention) (UN
Economic Commission for Europe)
Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (ILO)
Our Common Humanity – Asian Human Rights Charter – A Peoples’
Charter (Asian Human Rights Commission)
1999 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (UN)
Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace (UN)
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (ILO)
Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (OAS)
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2000 United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the
Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (UN)
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale
of children, child prostitution and child pornography (UN)
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially
Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime (UN)
Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UN,
Istambul)
United Nations Millenium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Human Rights Defenders: Support for the Individuals, Groups and
Organizations of Civil Society Working to Promote and Protect Human
Rights in the Americas (OAS)
2001 World Conference against Racism, Xenophobia and all Forms of
Discrimination (Durban, South Africa)
Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (UNESCO)
Inter-American Democratic Charter (OAS)
Macchu Picchu Declaration on Democracy, the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
and the War against Poverty (OAS)
African Union (AU, replacing OAU)
Attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon (September 11)
2002 Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UN)
Special Session on Children of the UN General Assembly
World Summit on Sustainable Development (UN, Johannesburg)
2003 United Nations Convention against Corruption
Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO)
Charter on the Preservation of Digital Heritage (UNESCO)
International Declaration on Human Genetic Data (UNESCO)
African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights
of Women in Africa (AU)

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2004 World Programme for Human Rights Education (UN)
African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AU)
Covenant of the Rights of the Child in Islam
2005 United Nations Declaration on Human Cloning
Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for
Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights and Serious
Violations of International Humanitarian Law (UN)
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural
Expressions (UNESCO)
Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UNESCO)
Additional Protocol (III) to the Geneva Conventions (Diplomatic
Conference)
Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human
Beings
World Summit (UN)
2006 International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with an
Optional Protocol (UN)
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance (UN)
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
United Nations Human Rights Council, replacing the Commission on
Human Rights
African Youth Charter (AU)
2007 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN)
Treaty of Lisbon (European Union)
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (AU)
2008 Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (UN)
Declaration of Medellín: Youth and Democratic Values (OAS)
2009 Asian Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights
2010 United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons
Edinburgh Declaration on Business and Human Rights (10th International
Conference of National Human Rights Institutions)
2011 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a
Communications Procedure (UN)

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 Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United
Nations ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy’ Framework
United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training
Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations of States in the area of
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Group of International Experts in
International Law)
2012 African Court of Justice and Human Rights the jurisdiction (AU)
ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations)
2014 International Conference on Prevention of Genocide (Brussels)
2016 Declaration on the Right to Peace (UN)

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