6.2 International law

CARE is committed to upholding and promoting international legal frameworks, including Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law. The rights of people affected by emergencies are enshrined in bodies of law including the:

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (outlines basic human rights standards including the right to life with dignity for all people), which is the foundation for two binding UN treaties: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• International Refugee Law (defines the rights of people who cross international borders to seek asylum. The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement describe the responsibilities of states towards the rights of displaced people within their own country. However, under international law they are legally non-binding.
• International Humanitarian Law (establishes the rights and obligations that apply in conflict situations in particular the rights of non-combatants in conflict situations)
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
• Convention on the Rights of the Child.

CARE should always uphold these international laws and principles in our own programmes, and advocate to uphold these laws where the rights of people affected by emergencies are being denied. For more information, see Chapter 28 Advocacy.