7 Human Rights

The post-1945 settlement made the individual an international legal person: the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights (1948), the twin Covenants (ICCPR and ICESCR, 1966 — with the UDHR, the "International Bill of Rights"), the conventions on genocide, racial discrimination, discrimination against women (CEDAW), torture (CAT), child rights (CRC), and the rights of migrant workers; regional systems (Europe's court, the Inter-American system, Africa's charter) — Asia the notable gap, where standards travel through treaty bodies and the UN's Universal Periodic Review. Generations (Karel Vasak's, memorably examinable): civil-political (blue, liberty), socio-economic (red, equality), solidarity/collective (green — development, environment, peace; indigenous peoples' rights). IR debates: universalism vs. cultural relativism (the "Asian values" controversy); regime type and rights compliance; rights-based conditionality in aid and trade; the International Criminal Court (1998 Statute; Nepal a party) as enforcement's institutional face; and the populist- era backlash. Nepal: party to the major instruments; the constitutional fundamental-rights chapter (2015) internalizes them; the standing national agenda — transitional justice for conflict- era violations (the TRC Act's serial scrutiny by the Supreme Court and the international community), treaty-implementation gaps (Nepal's first/second UPR cycles), caste discrimination, gender equality (inheritance reform, citizenship), and the NHRIs' role (the National Human Rights Commission).