What are the duties of states under international human rights conventions?
Once a state has adopted a particular convention it is obliged to promote and protect the human rights covered by the convention. The state is obliged to secure the human rights of all people within its jurisdiction and not just its own citizens. However, under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, developing countries may determine to what extent they will guarantee to non-nationals the economic rights recognised in the Covenant. The precise obligations of states vary from treaty to treaty but in general, States Parties can be regarded as obliged to respect the human rights of all people within their jurisdiction, to protect individuals from abuse by third parties and to fulfil the rights contained within the treaty. The latter includes the obligations to facilitate, promote and provide those rights. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognises that States Parties may not be able to ensure instantrealisation of the rights
