Alþjóðasáttmálanum

Alþjóðasáttmálinn, which translates to "International Covenant" in English, typically refers to a foundational document in international law, most commonly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). These two covenants, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966, along with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, form the International Bill of Human Rights.

The ICCPR focuses on civil and political rights, such as the right to life, freedom from torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and the right to a fair trial. It obligates states parties to respect and protect these rights for all individuals within their territory and subject to their jurisdiction.

The ICESCR, conversely, addresses economic, social, and cultural rights. These include rights to work, to fair wages and decent working conditions, to social security, to an adequate standard of living, to education, and to participate in cultural life. States parties to the ICESCR commit to taking steps to progressively realize these rights to the maximum of their available resources.

Both covenants are legally binding treaties for the states that have ratified them. They are overseen by treaty bodies, such as the Human Rights Committee for the ICCPR and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for the ICESCR, which monitor their implementation and consider complaints from individuals or states under certain circumstances. Alþjóðasáttmálinn thus plays a crucial role in establishing a global framework for human rights protection.