The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights entered into force in 1976, and had 164 states parties by the end of October  2016. The human rights that the Covenant seeks to promote and protect include:

    the right to work in just and favorable conditions;

    the right to social protection, to an adequate standard of living and to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental well-being the right to

education and the enjoyment of benefits of cultural freedom and scientific progress.

Civil and political rights.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its First Optional Protocol entered into force in 1976. The Covenant had 167 states parties by the end of 2010. The Second Optional Protocol was adopted in 1989.The Covenant deals with such rights as freedom of movement;equality before the law;

the right to a fair trial and presumption of innocence; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; freedom of opinion and expression; peaceful assembly; freedom of association; participation in public affairs and elections; and protection of minority rights. It prohibits arbitrary deprivation of life; torture, cruel or degrading treatment or punishment; slavery and forced labour; arbitrary arrest or detention; arbitrary interference with privacy; war propaganda; discrimination; and advocacy of racial or religious hatred.