Human Rights Terms and Acronyms

American Declaration: American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, adopted by the OAS
ATCA: Alien Tort Claims Act, another name for the Alien Tort Statute (below)
ATS: Alien Tort Statute, a U.S. law allowing foreign nationals to sue for violations of international law
CAT: UN Committee (or Convention) Against Torture
CEDAW: UN Committee (or Convention) on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
CERD: UN Committee (or Convention) on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
CESCR: UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Child Convention: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Committee: Human Rights Committee, the flagship UN human rights treaty body, overseeing the ICCPR
Council: Human Rights Council, an intergovernmental UN body that addresses human rights globally
CRC: Committee (or Convention) on the Rights of the Child
ECOSOC: UN Economic and Social Council, a body for discussion of economic, social and environmental
issues. Also responsible for many specialized UN bodies, like the Commission on the Status of Women
HRC: Human Rights Council, an intergovernmental UN body that addresses human rights globally
IACHR: Inter-­‐American Commission on Human Rights, an autonomous organ of the Organization of
American States mandated to monitor and protect human rights in the 35 countries of the Americas
IACtHR: Inter-­‐American Court of Human Rights, a judicial body that resolves cases referred to it by the
IACHR against the 20 countries that have accepted its contentious jurisdiction
ICC: International Criminal Court, a judicial body with competence to determine individuals’ criminal
responsibility for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. The U.S. is not a State Party.
ICCPR: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
ICERD: International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
ICESCR: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
ICJ: International Court of Justice, known as the “World Court,” which resolves disputes between States
NGO Committee: Committee on Non-­‐Governmental Organizations, which decides NGOs’ applications
for consultative status with ECOSOC, enabling them to participate in UN human rights meetings
OAS: Organization of American States, an intergovernmental body promoting democracy, development,
security and human rights in the Americas
OHCHR: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which plays a coordinating and
supporting role across the UN human rights mechanisms, and publishes educational materials
Special Procedures: Special Rapporteurs, Workings Groups, and Independent Experts established by the
Human Rights Council to monitor human rights conditions on a specific topic or in a particular country
Torture Convention: UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
UDHR: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948
UN: United Nations, an intergovernmental organization with 193 Member States throughout the world
UNHCR: UN High Commissioner for Refugees, a UN agency providing technical assistance and guidance
on asylum procedures and the rights of refugees
UPR: Universal Periodic Review, a process by which all UN Member States’ human rights records are
reviewed by their peers, with input from civil society, every four years
Vienna Convention: Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, an international treaty addressing
governments’ rights to carry out consular functions in other States, including communicating with their
citizens who are detained abroad. Distinct from the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.