GENEVA (8 December 2015) – UN experts have urged all States to ratify two key human rights treaties that celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2016, as a concrete commitment to the freedoms enshrined in the texts.

The experts’ call comes as the UN Human Rights Office prepares to launch a year-long campaign to promote and raise awareness of the two treaties - the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

The treaties were adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 December 1966 and have to date been ratified by 168 and 164 States respectively – eight States have ratified only one Covenant and 27 States have ratified neither*. Read the full statement