The International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights Legal Implementation Index

The ICCPR Legal Implementation Index is a tool developed by the Rule of Law Initiative to assess a country's implementation of its obligations under the ICCPR. Specifically, the index provides a framework for examining the extent to which a state's laws, administrative procedures, and policies comply with and facilitate implementation of the ICCPR. The index's structured assessment inquiry also allows for identification of components in a state party's legal system or government programs that may impede or limit implementation because they are either missing, poorly designed, or in need of greater resources.

The ICCPR Legal Implementation Index was created as part of a larger project of the Rule of Law Initiative to promote the use of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to advance the rule of law and assess respect for fundamental rights and freedoms in the emerging democracies and transitioning states worldwide. In September 2003, the Rule of Law Initiative published the Practical Guide to the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, an easily accessible handbook for understanding the nature and scope of the rights and freedoms catalogued in the ICCPR. Legal practitioners and scholars as well as international organizations and nongovernmental organizations will find the guide to be a useful tool in the day-to-day work of promoting human rights and the rule of law. It is also a valuable source of information for introductory courses in international human rights law.

Questions? Contact Andreea Vesa at <vesaa@staff.abanet.org>.