last updated July 26, 2006

International Instruments

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Acceded to on 23 August 1996 with no reservations, declarations or understandings. Entered into force on 23 November 1996.

Optional Protocol to the ICCPR: Acceded to on 23 August 1996 with no reservations or declarations. Entered into force on 23 August 1996.

Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR: No action has been taken.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR): Acceded to on 23 August 1996 with no reservations, declarations or understandings. Entered into force on 23 November 1996. 

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW):  Ratified on 11 November 1998 with no reservations, declarations or understandings. Entered into force on 11 December 1988.   

Optional Protocol to CEDAW: Signed only on 8 September 2000.

Convention on the Elimination of All Form of Racial Discrimination (CERD): Ratified on 2 August 1967 with no reservations, declarations or understandings. Entered into force on 4 January 1969.

Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC): Ratified on 18 June 1990 with no reservations, declarations or understandings. Entered into force on 2 September 1990.

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (OP-CRC-AC): Ratified on 15 May 2002 with a declaration. Entered into force on 15 June 2002.

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Righs of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Protitution and Child Pornography (OP-CRC-SC): Ratified on 17 September 2001 with no reservations, declarations or understandings. Entered into force on 18 January 2002.

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Punishment (CAT): Ratified on 25 April 2001 with no reservations, declarations or understandings. Entered into force on 25 May 2001.

Optional Protocol to the CAT: Signed only on 26 September 2003.

International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW): Signed only on 15 September 2000.

Convention on the Status of Refugees: Acceded to on 22 May 1981 with declarations and reservations (PDF, 50 pages). Entered into force 10 June 1981.  

Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees: Acceded to on 22 May 1981 with no reservations, declarations or understandings.

Convention on Transnational Organized Crime: Signed only on 27 November 2001.

Convention regarding Forced or Compulsory Labor (ILO C29): Ratified on 13 June 1961.

Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor (ILO C182): No action has been taken.

Regional Instruments

African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights: Ratified on 21 September 1983 and deposited on 27 January 1984.

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa: Signed only on 9 December 2003.

African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: Ratified on 13 May 2002 and deposited on 18 June 2002.

African Convention Preventing and Combating Corruption: Signed only 9 December 2003.

Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union: Ratified on 16 June 2003 and deposited on 5 July 2003.

Protocol of the Court of Justice of the African Union: Signed only on 9 December 2003.

AU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of the Refugee Problem in Africa: Ratified on 28 December 1987 and deposited on 14 March 1988.

The African Union Non-Aggression and Common Defense Pact: Signed only 9 March 2005.

Humanitarian Law Instruments 

Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War: Acceded to on 19 June 1965.

Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I): Acceded to on 21 October 1986.                                   

Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II): Acceded to on 21 October 1986.

Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: Ratified on 15 September 2000.