What is the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)?

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is an international agreement between countries that establishes a set of legally binding civil and political rights. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966, and entered into force in 1976. The ICCPR is part of the International Bill of Human Rights, along with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The ICCPR is designed to protect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to life, liberty and security of person, the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right to gender equality, and the right to freedom from discrimination. The ICCPR also prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and guarantees the right to political participation. The ICCPR is legally binding in New Hampshire, even though it is not a party to the covenant. The United States ratified the ICCPR in 1992, which means that all US federal and state actions are bound to the provisions of the treaty. As a result, the ICCPR has been adopted by the US Supreme Court as part of the “law of the land”. This means that individuals in New Hampshire can use the ICCPR to challenge state or federal laws that are inconsistent with the provisions of the covenant.

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What is the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)?

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