The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 16 December 1966.  The ICCPR enumerates a number of civil and political rights or ‘classic freedom rights.’  Such rights include the right to life, the right to a fair trial, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of thought and religion and freedom of association.  These rights are supposed to be immediately guaranteed by signing countries.  As of October 2009, the Covenant had 72 signatories and 165 parties.

International Covenant on Civil and political Rights