Two+International+Covenants

Two International Covenants on Human Rights

The preambles and articles 1, 3 and 5 of the Two International Covenants on Human Rights are almost identical.

Article 1 of each Covenant states that the right to self-determination is universal and calls upon States to promote the realization of that right and to respect it.

The article provides that "All peoples have the right of self-determination" and adds that "By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural  development".

Article 3, in both cases, reaffirms the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all human rights, and enjoins States to make that principle a reality.

Article 5, in both cases, provides safeguards against the destruction or undue limitation of any human right or fundamental freedom, and against misinterpretation of any provision of the Covenants as a means of justifying infringement of a right or freedom or its restriction to a greater extent than provided for in the Covenants