The main sources of international human rights law are treaties. Please see the International Legal Research Guide, Treaties tab for general information about treaties. Many international human rights law treaties fall within the United Nations system. Modern human rights law dates back to the formation of the United Nations itself. The following important treaties are known as the “international bill of human rights”.
Although it is not technically a treaty, the UDHR is extremely important. It has often been used to interpret Articles 55 and 56 of the U.N. Charter. This reliance on the UDHR has given rise to the view that it is now an authoritative interpretation of these UN Charter provisions or at least customary international law or a general principle of law. Buergenthal, Shelton & Stewart, International Human Rights in a Nutshell at 42-6. 6th floor, K3240.4 .B84 2017.
While international treaties and customary law form the backbone of international human rights law, U.N. resolutions, decisions of human rights bodies (i.e. U.N. Human Rights Committee), national laws and court decisions are important as persuasive authority.
In addition, "soft law", such as the declarations, guidelines and principles adopted at the international level contribute to the understanding, implementation and development of international human rights law. Soft law has been defined as non-binding documents or instruments (guidelines, declarations or principles) that may have use politically but are not enforceable. Hoffman, Marci & Rumsey, Mary, International and Foreign Legal Research: a coursebook (Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2008 later editions available as ebooks) at 7. 10th floor, K85 .H64 2008
In addition to the human rights instruments of the United Nations system, regional treaties like the following have played an important role in the development of international human rights law.