Glossary · Rule layers and human rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
Also known as: ICCPR, UN Civil and Political Rights Covenant
German: Internationaler Pakt über bürgerliche und politische Rechte
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is a United Nations human rights treaty, adopted in 1966 and in force since March 23, 1976, that binds its states parties to respect and ensure rights such as life, liberty, privacy, freedom of expression and equality before the law, monitored by the UN Human Rights Committee.
- AI regulation
- EU
- USA
- Canada
- China
In one sentence
The ICCPR (1966) is the UN treaty on civil and political rights. It binds states, not AI providers; the USA, Canada and EU states are parties, China not.
Example
Article 17 ICCPR (privacy) obliges a state party to protect people against arbitrary interference, including through the rules it sets for companies that process data with AI; the provider itself is not a party to the treaty.
Explained in context
Context cards connect this term with others to answer one question. Also in British English and German.
How it applies
- Binding on states: The Covenant binds the states that have ratified or acceded to it. Companies have no obligations under it; states give effect to it through their own law. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011) describe a corporate responsibility to respect human rights, which is not a treaty obligation.
- Declaration and treaty: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 10, 1948) is a resolution of the UN General Assembly, not a treaty. The ICCPR and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights turned its rights into treaty obligations.
- Parties (as of October 12, 2026): The USA (ratified 1992, with reservations), Canada (acceded 1976) and all EU member states are parties. China signed in 1998 and has not ratified. The EU itself is not a party.
- For AI: Rights to privacy (Article 17), freedom of expression (Article 19) and non-discrimination (Article 26) are the provisions most often cited in debates on AI. The Covenant protects human beings; it says nothing about the status of AI systems.