C HAPTER 2. S OURCES , SYSTEMS AND STANDARDS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE OBJECTIVES To introduce course participants to the overall existing United Nations framework for the protection of human rights in the administration of justice. To provide an overview of the principal instruments, monitoring mechanisms and authoritative United Nations bodies relevant to the work of prison officials. To highlight selected categories of potential human rights violations which prison officials should be careful to avoid. ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES International human rights law is binding on all States and their agents, including prison officials. Human rights are a legitimate subject for international law, and for international scrutiny. Prison officials are obliged to know, and to apply, international standards on human rights. A. Relevance of international standards 50. It should be stressed that this session is an introduction. It is not expected that all the information will be remembered. It is expected that after this session all trainees will be aware of the United Nations framework and of the Manual as the resource for information. B. The basic sources 51. The basic sources which are detailed in chapter 2 of the Manual could be highlighted through consecutive brainstorming sessions (answers are to be noted on a flip chart) around the following topics: 1. Some examples of human rights 52. Human rights and fundamental freedoms are enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in various treaties (also called “covenants” and “conventions”), declarations, guidelines and bodies of principles elaborated by the United Nations and by regional organizations. They include a broad range of guarantees, addressing virtually every aspect of human life and human interaction. Among the rights guaranteed to all human beings are: 39. – The right to life; 39. – Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 28