1966　International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” adopted in 1948 was a declaration and had no legally binding force. Therefore, on December 16, 1966, the 21st General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the “International Covenants on Human Rights,” a treaty stipulating the international protection of human rights. This resulted in the international legalization of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which set forth “standards” for human rights to be achieved, consisting of A: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, B: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and two Optional Protocols attached to Covenant B (documents that can be ratified or not at their option). The Optional Protocols attached to Covenant B are the “First Optional Protocol” to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights The Optional Protocols to Covenant B include Optional Protocol I, which provides for a system that allows individuals to report human rights violations directly to the Committee on Civil Liberties, and Optional Protocol II, which aims to abolish the death penalty. Japan has ratified both Covenant A and B, but has not ratified either of the two Optional Protocols.