Sources of international law

Treaties

International Human Rights Instruments

There are nine core international human rights instruments, often supplemented by optional protocols dealing with specific concerns. Each of these  instruments has established a committee of experts to monitor implementation of the treaty provisions by its State parties. These instruments and committees are:

• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)
• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Human Rights Committee)
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women)
• Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Committee against Torture)
• Convention on the Rights of the Child (Committee on the Rights of the Child)
• International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (committee on Migrant Workers)
• International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (Committee on Enforced Disappearances)
• The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (New York, 7 March 1966)

• Angst, D., La Convention Internationale Sur l'Élimination de Toutes les Formes de Discrimination Raciale (CEDR), Genève, Schulthess, 2014, pp. 268-281. 
• Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Selected Decisions of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Vol. I: Thirty-sixth to Seventy-fifth Sessions (August 1988-August 2011), New York, United Nations, 2012. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Sélection de décisions du Comité pour l'Élimination de la Discrimination Raciale (2012-...), New York, United Nations, 2012-….  (E-article).
• Gouttes, R. de, “La lutte Contre la Discrimination Raciale Sur le Plan International : la Convention Internationale et le Comité pour l'Élimination de toutes les Formes de Discrimination Raciale”, In: Dizdarevic, A.S. & R. Koussetogue Koudé (dir.), Les Droits de l'Homme: Défis et Mutations: Actes des Travaux Marquant le XXVe Anniversaire de l'IDHL, Paris : le Harmattan, 2013, pp. 127-141. 
• Keane, D., Waughray, A. (eds.), Fifty Years of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination : A Living Instrument, Manchester, Manchester University Press, 2018.
• Keane, D., “Is the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination the De Facto Minority Rights Treaty?”, in: Buckley, C.M. (et al.) (eds.), Towards Convergence in International Human Rights Law: Approaches of Regional and International Systems, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff, 2017 pp. 275-295. 
• Kruckenberg, L.J., The UNreal World of Human Rights: An Ethnography of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2012. 
• Lerner, N., The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff, 2015.
• Malaihollo, M., “The International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: Reviewing Special Measures under Contemporary International Law”, in: Groningen Journal of International Law, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2017, pp. 135-146. (E-article).
• Thornberry, P., The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016. 

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (New York, 16 December 1966)

• Decaux, E. (dir.), Le Pacte International Relatif aux Droits Civils et Politiques : Commentaire Article par Article, Economica, Paris, 2019. 
• Faúndez Ledesma, H., El Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos y la Jurisprudencia del Comité́ de Derechos Humanos, Caracas, Universidad Católica, Andrés Bello, 2014.
• Joseph, S., and M. Castan, The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights : Cases, Materials, and Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2013.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (New York, 16 December 1966)

• Saul, B. (ed.), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights : Travaux Préparatoires, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016. 
• Hae-Bong, S., “Toward a Holistic Understanding and Implementation of Human Rights : Development of Norms and Practice under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”, In: Japanese Yearbook of International Law; Vol. 59 (2016), pp. 51-80. 
• Schrijver, N., “Approaching Fifty: the Future of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights” , In: Hanschel, D. (eds.)(et al), Mensch und Recht : Festschrift für Eibe Riedel zum 70. Geburtstag, Berlin, Duncker & Humblot, 2013, pp. 147-152.
• Wang, Z., Treaty Commitment as a Signaling Device: Explaining the Ratification of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, In: Human Rights Review; Vol. 17 (2016), No. 2, pp. 193-220. 

United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (New York, 18 December 1979)                             

• Cameron, E.A.M., The Rights of Women and the Elimination of Discrimination: Selective Bibliography, 2014 = Les Droits des Femmes et l'Élimination de la Discrimination: Bibliographie Sélective, 2014, The Hague, Peace Palace Library, 2014.
• Campbell, M., “Women's Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women : Unlocking the Potential of the Optional Protocol”, In: Nordic Journal of Human Rights; Vol. 34 (2016), No. 4, pp. 247-271.
• Freeman, M.A., (eds.) (et. al.), The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2012.
• Jänterä-Jareborg, M. and H.Tigroudja, Women's Human Rights and the Elimination of Discrimination = Les Droits des Femmes et l'Élimination de la Discrimination, Leiden, Brill | Nijhoff, 2016. 
• Hellum, A., and H.S. Aasen (eds.), Women's Human Rights: CEDAW in International, Regional, and National Law, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2013.
• Hodson, L., “Women's Rights and the Periphery: CEDAW's Optional Protocol”, In: European Journal of International Law; Vol. 25 (2014), No. 2, pp. 561-578. 
• McQuigg, R.J.A., “The CEDAW Committee and Gender-Based Violence against Women”, In: International Human Rights Law Review; Vol. 6 (2017), No. 2, pp. 263-278.
• Meyer, E., “Designing Women: The Definition of Woman in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Comment)”, In: Chicago Journal of International Law; Vol. 16 (2016), No. 2, pp. 553-590.
• Rodriquez Huerta, G., Colección del Sistema Universal de Protección de los Derechos Humanos ; Fascículo 6: La Convención sobre la Eliminación de todas las Formas de Discriminación contra la Mujer (CEDAW), México, Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, 2012. 
• Roman, D. (dir.), La Convention pour l'Élimination des Discriminations à l'Égard des Femmes, Paris, Editions A. Pedone, 2014.

United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (New York, 10 December 1984)

• Creamer, C.D. and B.A. Simmons, “Ratification, Reporting, and Rights: Quality of Participating in the Convention against Torture”, In: Human Rights Quarterly; Vol. 37 (2015), No. 3, pp. 579-608.
• Evans, M., “The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture in the Developing Architecture of UN Torture Protection”, In: Nolan, A. (eds. ) (et. al.), The United Nations Special Procedures System, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff, 2017. 
• Garcia de Alba, R., Colección del Sistema Universal de Protección de los Derechos Humanos; Fascículo 7: La Convención contra la Tortura y Otros Tratos o Penas Crueles, Inhumanos o Degradantes, México, Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, 2012.
• Imhof, S., “La Convention Contre la Torture et Autres Peines ou Traitements Cruels, Inhumains ou Dégradants”, In: Hertig Randall, M. and M. Hottelier (dir.), Introduction aux Droits de l'Homme, Introduction aux Droits de l'Homme, Genève, Schultess, 2014.
• Nowak, M., The United Nations Convention against Torture: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2008.
• Nowak, M., “Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment”, in: Clapham, A., and P. Gaeta (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Armed Conflict, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 387-409.
• Renzulli, I., “A Critical Reflection on the Conceptual and Legal Foundations of the Duty to prevent Torture”, International Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 20 (2016), No. 8, pp. 1244-1263. 
• Tate, K.E., “Torture: Does the Convention against Torture Work to Actually Prevent Torture in Practice by States Party to the Convention (Comment)”, In: Willamette Journal of International Law and Dispute Resolution; Vol. 21 (2013), No. 2, pp. 194-222. 

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (New York, 20 November 1989)

• Cohen, C.P., Jurisprudence on the Rights of the Child, Ardsley, NY, Transnational Publishers, 2005. 
• Cvejić Jančić, O., “The Rights of the Child in a Changing World : the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: 25 Years after”, In: Schauer, M. and B. Verschraegen (eds.), General Reports of the XIXth Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law = Rapports généraux du XIXème Congrès de l'Académie Internationale de Droit Comparé, Dordrecht, Springer, 2017, p. 491-511.
• Cvejić Jančić, O. (ed.), The Rights of the Child in a Changing World : 25 Years after the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Cham, Springer, 2016.
• Detrick, S.L., A Commentary on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, The Hague, Kluwer Law International, 1999. 
• Garcia Chavarria, A.B., Colección del Sistema Universal de Protección de los Derechos Humanos ; Fascículo 8: La Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño, México Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, 2012. 
• Mahmoudi  S. (et al.) (eds.), Child-friendly Justice : A Quarter of a Century of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Leiden,Boston, Brill Nijhoff, 2015.
• Liefaard, T., and J.E. Doek, (eds.), Litigating the Rights of the Child: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Domestic and International Jurisprudence, Dordrecht, Springer, 2015. 
• Schmahl, S., Kinderrechtskonvention : Mit Zusatzprotokollen : Handkommentar, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2017. 
• Tobin, J., The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2019.

United Nations Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (New York, 18 December 1990)

• Morales Sanchez, J., Colección del Sistema Universal de Protección de los Derechos Humanos; Fascículo 9: La Convención Internacional sobre la Protección de los Derechos de Todos los Trabajadores Migratorios y de sus Familiares, México, Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, 2012. 
• Pécoud, A., “The Politics of the UN Convention on Migrant Workers Rights”, In: Groningen Journal of International Law; Vol. 5 (2017), No. 1, pp. 57-72. 
• Pécoud, A. and Guchteneire, P. de, “Migration, Human Rights and the United Nations: An Investigation into the Obstacles to the UN Convention on Migrant Workers' Rights”, In: Chetail, V. (ed.), International Law and Migration, Vol. 2, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016, pp. 59-84. 
• Ryan, B., “In Defence of the Migrant Workers Convention: Standard Setting for Contemporary Migration”, In: Juss, S.S. (ed.), The Ashgate Companion to Migration Law, Theory and Policy, Farnham, Ashgate, 2013, pp. 491-515.

International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (New York, 20 December 2006)

• Citroni, G., “The Contribution of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and Other International Human Rights Bodies to the Struggle against Enforced Disappearance”, In: Haeck, Y. (eds.) (et al.), The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2015, pp.  379-401. 
• Decaux, E., “La Convention Internationale Pour la Protection de toutes les Personnes Contre les Disparitions Forcées, Ombres et Lumieres sur la Vie Privée et Familiale”, In: Casadevall, G.R. (eds.) (et al.), Mélanges en l’honneur de Dean Spielmann = Essays in Honour of Dean Spielmann, Oisterwijk, Wolf Legal Publishers, 2015, pp. 117-125. 
• Frouville, O. de, “On the Twentieth Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration for the Protection of All Persons Against Enforced Disappearances”, In: Cantú Rivera, H. (ed.), The Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council : A Brief Look from the Inside and Perspectives from Outside, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2015, pp. 103-111. 
• Huhle, R., “Das Verschwindenlassen von Personen : Eine Erste Bilanz der Umsetzung der UN-Konvention”, In: Vereinte Nationen; Vol. 63 (2015), No. 4, pp. 166-170.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (New York, 13 December 2006).

• Bantekas, I.,  Stein, M.A., Anastasiou, D. (eds.), The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, A Commentary, Oxford, United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 2018.
• Broderick, A., The Long and Winding Road to Equality and Inclusion for Persons With Disabilities : The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2015. 
• Degener, T., “10 years of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”, In: Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights; Vol. 35 (2017), No. 3, pp. 152-157. 
• Della Fina, V., Cera, R., Giuseppe Palmisano (eds.), The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities : A Commentary,  Cham, Switzerland, Springer, 2017.
• Espinosa, D.L., Colección del Sistema Universal de Protección de los Derechos Humanos ; Fascículo 10: La Convención sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad, México, Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, 2012. 
• Pyaneandee, C., International Disability Law : A Practical Approach to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Abingdon, Oxon, Routledge, 2019.
• Waddington, L., Lawson, A., The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Practice : A Comparative Analysis of the Role of Court, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018.

Regional Human Rights Instruments

Africa

• The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights 1981 (Banjul Charter), and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa 2003 (Maputo Protocol)
• The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 1990 (The ACRWC or Children's Charter)

America

• American Convention on Human Rights,1969 (The Pact of San José, Costa Rica) and the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1988 (The Protocol of San Salvador) and also the Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty, 1990.
• American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, 1948.
• The Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture, 1985
• The Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons, 1994
• The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women, 1994 (Convention of Belém do Pará)

Europe

• The European Convention on Human Rights 1950 (Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms)
• The European Social Charter 1961; the Revised European Social Charter 1996.
• The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 1987
• The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities 1995,

A selection of books containing a compilation of human rights instruments:

• Bisset, A. (ed.), Blackstone's International Human Rights Documents, Twelfth Edition, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2020. 
• Council of Europe, Handbook on European Law Relating to the Rights of the Child, 2015.
• El-Khoury, N., Irrational Human Rights? : An Examination of International Human Rights Treaties, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff, 2021.
• Fennell, S. and D. Andoni (eds.), The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights: Basic Documents, Oisterwijk, Wolf Legal Publishers, 2014. 
• Goodwin-Gill, (ed.), Brownlie's Documents on Human Rights, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2010. 
• Heyns, C. and M. Killander (eds.), Compendium of Key Human Rights Documents of the African Union, Pretoria, Pretoria University Law Press, 2013 
• Kempen, van, P.H.P.H.M.C., International and Regional Human Rights Documents, Nijmegen, Wolf Legal Publishers, 2010 
• MacDonald QC, A., The Rights of the Child: Annotated Materials, Bristol, Jordan Publishing Limited, 2015. 
• Malekian, F. and K. Nordlöf, Confessing the International Rights of Children: The Basic Documents with Analysis, Newcastle upon Tyne, Cambridge Scholars, 2012. 
• Mares, R., Business and Human Rights: a Compilation of Documents, Leiden, Nijhoff, 2004 
• Marks, S.,  Health and Human rights: Basic International Documents, Boston, MA : François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard School of Public Health, 2006 
• Murray, R., The African Charter on Human and People's Rights : A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2019.
• Quinn, F. (ed.), Selected Human Rights Documents for the New Independent States and Central Europe, Den Bosch,  BookWorld Publications, 2001 
• Smith, R., Core Documents on European and International Human Rights, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. 
• Varennes, De F. (ed.), Asia-Pacific Human Rights Documents and Resources, The Hague, Nijhoff, 1998-2000 
• Wolf, van der, W., C. Tofan and D. de Ruiter (eds.), Human Rights and HIV/AIDS: Selected Documents, The Hague, International Courts Association, 2011. 
• Uwazuruike, A., Human Rights under the African Charter, Cham, Palgrave Macmillan, 2020.

Online: U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Universal Human Rights Instruments.

Case-law

Relevant links

• African Court of Human Rights - Cases
• European Court of Human Rights - Case-law Analysis
• European Court of Human Rights - Judgments and decisions. See HUDOC
• Inter-American Court of Human Rights  - IAH Court Finder

Books about human rights and case-law

• Bugorgue-Larsen, L., and Úbeda de Torres, A., The Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Case-law and Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011. [E-book].
• Burbano Herrera, C., Provisional Measures in the Case Law of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Antwerp, Intersentia, 2010.
• Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, European Court of Human Rights, Council of Europe, Dialogue Across the Atlantic. Selected Case-law of the European and Inter-American Human Rights Courts, Oisterwijk, Wolf Legal Publishers, 2015.
• Council of Europe, Freedom of Expression in Europe. Case-law Concerning Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Strasbourg, Council of Europe Publishing, 2007.
• Doebbler, C.F., International Human Rights Law. Cases and Materials, Washington, DC, CD Pub., 2004.
• Fenton-Glynn, C.,Children and the European Court of Human Rights, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2021.
• Gerards, J. and J.W.A. Fleuren (eds.), Implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights and of the Judgments of the ECtHR in National Case-law. A Comparative Analysis, Cambridge, United Kingdom, Intersentia, 2014.
• Haeck, Y., O. Ruiz-Chiriboga, and C. Burbano Herrera (eds.), The Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Theory and Practice, Present and Future, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2015.
• McBride, J., Human Rights and Criminal Procedure. The Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, Council of Europe Publishing, 2018.
• Phan, H.D., A Selective Approach to Establishing a Human Rights Mechanism in Southeast Asia. The Case for a Southeast Asian Court of Human Rights, Leiden, Brill, 2012. [E-book].
• Salinas de Frías, A., Counter-terrorism and Human Rights in the Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, Council of Europe Publishing, 2012.
• Salvia, M. de, The Compendium of the European Convention on Human rights. The Leading Principles in the Strasbourg Case-Law. Vol. 1.:  Jurisprudence 1960-2002, Kehl am Rhein, N.P. Engel Verlag, 2004.
• Schutter, O. de, International Human Rights Law; Cases, Materials, Commentary, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2014. 
• Šikuta, J., and E. Hubálková, European Court of Human Rights. Case-law of the Grand-chamber 1998-2006, The Hague, T.M.C. Asser Press, 2007.
• Villiger, M.E., Handbuch der Europäischen Menschenrechtskonvention (EMRK): mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Rechtsprechung des Europäischen Gerichtshofs für Menschenrechte in Schweizer Fällen, Baden-Baden, Nomos, Zürich Schulthess, Wien, Verlag Österreich, 2020.

UN Declarations and Resolutions

The resolutions and decisions of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council may provide valuable information on human rights. Although they cannot themselves constitute international law or serve as conclusive evidence of a rule of customary law, such resolutions do have value in providing evidence of existing or emerging law. This point of view has been acknowledged by the International Law Commission.

As every Member State has been recognized and has a vote in the UN General Assembly, finding General Assembly resolutions that passed unanimously or near-unanimously may serve as an excellent starting point in the legal research process. Pay attention to the language of the resolution. Those with firm obligations versus those that are merely aspirational or advisory in nature are more likely to be considered valuable as evidence of customary international law.

→ Official Document System Search. ODS is the UN's Official Document System. You can search for UN declarations, resolutions and other documents by keywords, then narrow your search.

→ Start Your Research: (7) Resolutions and Decisions of International Organizations.

Soft law

Reference works

• Bantekas, I. and L. Oette, International Human Rights Law and Practice, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2016. 
• Benedek, W., Menschenrechte Verstehen: Handbuch zur Menschenrechtsbildung, Berlin, Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag (BWV), 2017. 
• Binder, C. (et al.) (eds.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Human Rights, Cheltenham, Elgar, 2021.
• Buergenthal, T., D. Shelton and D.P. Stewart, International Human Rights in a Nutshell, St. Paul, West, 2009.  
• Cushman, Th. (ed.), Handbook of Human Rights, London, Routledge, 2012.  
• Fellmeth, A.X., Paradigms of International Human Rights Law, New York, Oxford University Press, 2016. 
• Fernandez de Casadevante Romani (ed.), C., Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos, Dilex S.L., 2011.
• Fernandez Liesa, C., El Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos en Perspectiva Historica, Cizur Menor, Civitas, 2014. Gonzalez-Salzberg, D.A., and L. Hodson (eds.), Research Methods for International Human Rights Law: Beyond the Traditional Paradigm, Abingdon, Oxon, Routledge, 2020. 
• Haas, M., International Human Rights: A Comprehensive Introduction, London, Routledge, 2014. 
• Have, Nienke van der, The Prevention of Gross Human Rights Violations Under International Human Rights Law, The Hague, Asser Press, 2018. 
• Hopgood, S. (et al.) (eds.), Human Rights Futures, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2017. 
• Joseph, S. and A. McBeth, Research Handbook on International Human Rights Law, Cheltenham, Elgar, 2010. 
• Kälin, W. und J. Künzli, Universeller Menschenrechtsschutz: der Schutz des Individuums auf Globaler und Regionaler Ebene, Basel/Baden-Baden, Helbing Lichtenhahn Verlag/Nomos Verlag, 2013. 
• Kälin, W., and J. Künzli, The Law of International Human Rights Protection, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2019.
• Kolb, R. and G.Gaggioli (eds.), Research Handbook on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar, 2013. 
• McBeth, A. (et al.), The International Law of Human Rights, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Oxford University Press, 2017. 
• Moeckli, D., S. Shah and S. Sivakumaran (eds.)  International Human Rights Law, Fourth Edition, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2022. 
• Moeckli, D. (eds.) (et al.), The Human Rights Covenants at 50 : Their Past, Present, and Future, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018.
• Pace, J.P., The United Nations Commission on Human Rights : 'A Very Great Enterprise', Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2020. [E-book].
• Pisillo Mazzeschi, R., International Human Rights Law: Theory and Practice, Cham, Springer, 2021.
• Rainey, B., Human Rights Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2017.
• Rehman, J., International Human Rights Law, Harlow, Pearson, 2010. 
• Smith, R.K.M., Textbook on International Human Rights, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018.
• Smith, R.K.M., International Human Rights Law, Ninth Edition, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2020.
• Sudre, F. (et al.), Droit Europeén et International des Droits de l'Homme, Paris, Presses universitaires de France, 2019. 
• Tiedemann, P., Philosophical Foundation of Human Rights, Cham, Springer, 2020. [E-book].
• United Nations. Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, Handbook for Human Rights Treaty Body Members, Geneva, United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, 2015.
• Weissbrodt, D., F.D. Ní Aoláin and M. Rumsey (ed.), Library of Essays on International Human Rights, Volume I: The Development of International Human Rights Law, Farnham /Surrey, Ashgate, 2014.

Selected books and articles

• Angel, W.D.(ed.), The International Law of Youth Rights, Leiden/Boston, Brill Nijhoff, 2015. 
• Atapattu, S., Human Rights Approaches to Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities, Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2016. 
• Banda, F. and L. Fishbayn Joffe (eds.), Women's Rights and Religious Law: Domestic and International Perspectives, London/New York, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2016. 
• Baughen, S., Human Rights and Corporate Wrongs: Closing the Governance Gap, Cheltenham/Northampton, Elgar, 2015. 
• Bhabha, J. (et al.) (eds.), Realizing Roma Rights, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2017.
• Bielefeldt, H. (et al.), Freedom of Religion or Belief : An International Law Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016. 
• Brems, E. (eds. (et al.), Children's Rights Law in the Global Human Rights Landscape : isolation, inspiration, integration?, London, Routledge, 2017. 
• Brysk, A., and M. Stohl (eds.), Expanding Human Rights : 21st Century Norms and Governance, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017.
• Burson, B., Human Rights and the Refugee Definition : Comparative Legal Practice and Theory, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff, 2016. 
• Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights, Bringing a Case to the European Court of Human Rights, Oisterwijk, Wolf Legal Publishers, 2014. 
• Criddle, E.J. (ed.), Human Rights in Emergencies, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2016. 
• Dembour, M-B., When Humans Become Migrants : Study of the European Court of Human Rights with an Inter-American Counterpoint, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2015. 
• Dijk, P. Van (eds.) (et. al.),  Theory and Practice of the European Convention on Human Rights, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2018. 
• El Demery, A.M., The Arab Charter of Human Rights: A Voice for Sharia in the Modern World, Chicago, Council on International Law and Politics, 2015. 
• Etone, D., The Human Rights Council. The Impact of the Universal Periodic Review in Africa, Abingdon, Routledge, 2020.
• Evans, M.D., P. Petkoff and J. Rivers (eds.), The Changing Nature of Religious Rights under International Law, Oxford/New York, Oxford University Press, 2015. 
• Farrior, S., Equality and Non-Discrimination under International Law, Volume II, Library of Essays on International Human Rights, Franham/Burlington, Ashgate, 2015. 
• Fawcett, J. J. (et al.), Human Rights and Private International Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016. 
• Follesdal, A., Exporting the Margin of Appreciation: Lessons for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, In: International Journal of Constitutional Law; Vol. 15, No. 2 (2017), pag. 359-371. 
• Fortin, K., The Accountability of Armed Groups Under Human Rights Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2017. 
• Gerards, J. and E. Brems (eds.), Procedural Review in European Fundamental Rights Cases, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2017. 
• Gonzalez-Salzberg, D.A. and L. Hodson (eds.), Research Methods for International Human Rights Law : Beyond the Traditional Paradigm, Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY, Routledge, 2020.
• Have, N. van der, The Prevention of Gross Human Rights Violations under International Human Rights Law, The Hague, Asser Press, 2018. 
• Hassine, K. and S. Leckie(eds.), The United Nations Principles on Housing and Property Restitition for Refugees and Displaced Persons ("The Pinheiro Principles"): a Commentary, Leiden , Brill Nijhoff, 2016. 
• Hehir, A., and Murray, R.W. (eds.), Protecting Human Rights in the 21st Century, London, Routledge, 2017. 
• Hohmann, J. and M. Weller, The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018. [E-book].
• Jänterä-Jareborg, M., and H. Tigroudja (eds.), Women's Human Rights and the Elimination of Discrimination = Les Droits des Femmes et l'Élimination de la Discrimination, Leiden, Brill, 2016. 
• Johansen, S.Ø., The Human Rights Accountability Mechanisms of International Organizations, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2020. [E-book].
• Kaltenborn, M., Krajewski, M., Kuhn, H., Sustainable Development Goals and Human Rights, Cham, Springer Open, 2020. [E-book].
• Kanter, A.S., The Development of Disability Rights under International Law: From Charity to Human Rights, London/New York, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2015.
• Karimova, T., Human Rights and Development in International Law, London/New York, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2016. 
• Karpenstein, U. und F.C. Mayer, Konvention zum Schutz der Menschenrechte und Grundfreiheiten: Kommentar, München, Verlag C.H. Beck, 2015. 
• Kadelbach, S. (et al.) (eds), Judging International Human Rights. Courts of General Jurisdiction as Human Rights Courts, Cham, Springer, 2019.
•  Leach, P., Taking a Case to the European Court of Human Rights, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2017.
• Lobba, P., Judicial Dialogue on Human Rights: the Practice of International Criminal Tribunals, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff , 2017. 
• Lõhmus, K., Caring Autonomy: European Human Rights Law and the Challenge of Individualism, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015 
• Lorenzmeier, S., and V. Sancin (eds.), Contemporary Issues of Human Rights Protection in International and National Settings, Nomos, 2018.  
• Mahmoudi, H., and M.L. Penn (eds.), Human Dignity and Human Rights, Bingley, UK, Emerald Publishing Limited, 2020.
• Mallory, C., Human Rights Imperialists : The Extraterritorial Application of the European Convention on Human Rights, Oxford, Hart, 2020. 
• Medina, C., The American Convention on Human Rights : Crucial Rights and Their Theory and Practice, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2016. 
• Mégret, F. and P.  Alston (Eds.),The United Nations and Human Rights. A Critical Appraisal, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2020.
• Mills, K. and D.J. Karp (eds.), Human Rights Protection in Global Politics: Responsibilites of States and Non-State Actors, Basingstoke / New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2015. 
• Moeckli, D. (et. al), (eds.), The Human Rights Covenants at 50 : Their Past, Present, and Future, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018. 
• Murray, Human Rights Obligations of Non-State Armed Groups, Hart, 2016. 
• Murray, D. (et al.) (eds.), Practitioners' Guide to Human Rights Law in Armed Conflict, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016. 
• Mustaniemi-Laakso, M., and H.O. Sano (eds.), Human Rights-Based Change: the Institutionalisation of Economic and Social rights, Cheltenham, Routledge, 2017. 
• Oberleitner, G., Human Rights in Armed Conflict: Law, Practice, Policy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015. 
• Pease, K.K., Human Rights and Humanitarian Diplomacy, Manchester, Manchester University Press, 2016.
• Pruce, J.R., The Mass Appeal of Human Rights, Cham, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018. 
• Risini, I., The Inter-State Application Under the European Convention on Human Rights : Between Collective Enforcement of Human Rights and International Dispute Settlement, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff, 2018. 
• Schabas, W.A., The European Convention on Human Rights: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2015. 
• Shelton, D., Remedies in International Human Rights Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2015. 
• Smet, S., and E. Brems (eds.), When Human Rights Clash at the European Court of Human Rights: Conflict or Harmony?, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2017? 
• Tistounet, E., The UN Human Rights Council. A Practical Anatomy, Cheltenham, Elgar, 2020. [E-book].
• Webber, G.C.N. (et al.), Legislated Rights: Securing Human Rights Through Legislation, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2018. 
• Wilmer, F., Human Rights in International Politics: An Introduction, Boulder/London, Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2015. 
• Zuber, V. (et al.) (dir.), Histoire et postérité de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'Homme. Nouvelles approches, Rennes, Presses Universitaires de Rennes, 2022.

Periodicals and series

• African Human Rights Law Journal
• All-European Human Rights Yearbook
• Anuario de derechos humanos
• The Asian Yearbook of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
• Asia-Pacific Journal on Human Rights and the Law
• Australian Journal of Human Rights
• Buffalo Human Rights Law Review
• Canadian Human Rights Yearbook
• Columbia Human Rights Law Review
• East African Journal of Human Rights & Democracy
• East African Journal of Peace & Human Rights
• Elgar Studies in Human Rights
• European Human Rights Law Review
• European Human Rights Reports
• European Yearbook of Human Rights
• Harvard Human Rights Journal
• Harvard Human Rights Yearbook
• Helsinki Monitor
• Human Rights = Menschenrechte = Droits de l'homme = Anthrōpina dikaiōmata
• Human Rights : A Basic Handbook for UN Staff
• Human Rights : A Quarterly Review of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights = Droits de l'Homme : Revue Trimestrielle du Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies aux Droits de l'Homme
• Human Rights Brief
• Human Rights Case Digest
• Human rights: Contemporary Issues and Perspectives
• Human Rights Defender
• Human Rights & Globalization Law Review
• Human Rights and International Law
• Human Rights in Development: Yearbook
• Human Rights in Law Enforcement
• Human Rights & International Legal Discourse
• Human Rights : Journal of the Section of Individual Rights & Responsibilities
• Human Rights Law Journal
• Human Rights Law Review (Columbia University)
• Human Rights Law Review (University of Nottingham)
• Human Rights Law in Africa
• Human Rights Quarterly
• Human Rights Review (University College, London)
• Human Rights in Development Yearbook
• Human Rights Watch World Report
• Human Rights Yearbook
• Inter-American and European Human Rights Journal
• Inter-American Yearbook on Human Rights
• Intercultural Human Rights Law Review
• International Human Rights Law Review
• Interdisciplinary Journal of Human Rights Law
• International Journal of Children's Rights
• The International Journal of Human Rights
• International Journal on Group Rights
• Journal Europeen des Droits de l'Homme
• Journal of Human Rights Practice
• The Journal of Southeast Asian Human Rights
• MenschenRechtsMagazin
• Muslim World Journal of Human Rights
• Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights
• New York Law School Journal of Human Rights
• Nordic Journal of Human Rights
• Nortwestern University Journal of International Human Rights
• Religion & Human Rights
• Revista do Instituto Brasileiro de Direitos Humanos
• Revista Internacional de Derechos Humanos: RIDH
• Revue des Droits de l'Homme : Droit International et Droit Comparé = Human Rights Journal : International and Comparative Law
• Revue Trimestrielle des Droits de l'Homme
• Routledge Studies in Human Rights
• Security and Human Rights
• South African Journal on Human Rights
• South African Human Rights Yearbook
• SUR - International Journal on Human Rights
• Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review
• Texas Forum on Civil Liberties & Civil Rights
• Universal Human Rights
• University of Oxford Human Rights Hub Journal
• Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice
• William and Mary Bill of Rights Journal
• Women's Rights Law Reporter
• Yale Human Rights and Development Law Journal
• Yearbook on Human Rights
• Zeitschrift fur Menschenrechte

Bibliographies

• O'Donnell, Human Rights: Philosophical, Legal, and Political Perspectives—A Bibliography (2013), Santa Barbara City College.
• Bibliographies and Guides about Human Rights, University of Minnesota.
• Annotated Bibliography Human Rights in Latin America, University of California, Davis.