International Human Rights Treaties to which Canada is a Party

Canada has adhered to the following main human rights treaties, and optional protocols, of the United Nations system. The dates are the date of Canada’s ratification or accession.

• Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1952)
• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1970)
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1976)
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (1976)
  • Optional Protocol to the ICCPR (complaint mechanism) (1976)
  • Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty (2005)
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (1981)
  • Optional Protocol to CEDAW (complaint mechanism) (2002)
• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1987)
• Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (1991)
  • Optional Protocol to the CRC on the Involvement of Children in armed conflict (2000)
  • Optional Protocol to the CRC on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (2005)
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2010)
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2018)

The text of these instruments, and other human rights instruments to which Canada is a party, can be found on Canada.ca.