International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 00:24, 20 July 2025

UN General Comment No. 36 (2018) – Article 6 of the ICCPR (Right to Life)

Issued by the UN Human Rights Committee, General Comment No. 36 provides an authoritative interpretation of Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), focusing on the right to life.

States must not invoke security concerns to justify the unlawful killing of protesters.
The failure to prevent, investigate, or punish such killings may itself constitute a violation of the right to life.

🔴 Violation: Kenya may be in breach of its international obligations if it does not investigate and prosecute those who ordered or carried out shootings of protesters.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

Kenya ratified the ICCPR in 1972, thereby making its provisions legally binding on the state.

Article 6(1): “Every human being has the inherent right to life... No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.”
Article 7: Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
Article 21: Right of peaceful assembly.

🚫 Violation: Arbitrary shootings, enforced disappearances, and the use of excessive force during protests violate Articles 6, 7, and 21 of the ICCPR.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-. UN General Comment No. 36 (2018) – Article 6 of the ICCPR (Right to Life)
+== UN General Comment No. 36 (2018) – Article 6 of the ICCPR (Right to Life) ==
-Issued by the UN Human Rights Committee, this authoritative interpretation of the ICCPR states:
+Issued by the UN Human Rights Committee, '''General Comment No. 36''' provides an authoritative interpretation of Article 6 of the '''International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)''', focusing on the right to life.
 * States must not invoke security concerns to justify the unlawful killing of protesters.
-* The failure to prevent, investigate, or punish such killings may itself be a violation of the right to life.
+* The failure to prevent, investigate, or punish such killings may itself constitute a violation of the right to life.
-🔴 Violation: Kenya may be in breach if it does not investigate and prosecute those who ordered or carried out shootings of protesters.
+'''🔴 Violation:''' Kenya may be in breach of its international obligations if it does not investigate and prosecute those who ordered or carried out shootings of protesters.
+== International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) ==
+Kenya ratified the '''ICCPR''' in 1972, thereby making its provisions legally binding on the state.
+* '''Article 6(1)''': “Every human being has the inherent right to life... No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.”
+* '''Article 7''': Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
+* '''Article 21''': Right of peaceful assembly.
+'''🚫 Violation:''' Arbitrary shootings, enforced disappearances, and the use of excessive force during protests violate Articles 6, 7, and 21 of the ICCPR.
-. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
+=== References ===
-Kenya ratified the ICCPR in 1972, making it legally binding.
+* [https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/general-comments-and-recommendations/general-comment-no-36-article-6-right-life-un-human OHCHR – General Comment No. 36 on Article 6: The Right to Life (2018)]
-* Article 6(1) – “Every human being has the inherent right to life... No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.”
+* [https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx OHCHR – International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]
-* Article 7 – Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment
-* Article 21 – Right of peaceful assembly
-🚫 Violation: Arbitrary shootings and enforced disappearances during protests violate Articles 6, 7, and 21.