Human rights seem really vague and broad. How do I know what they actually mean?

• Human rights treaties often have Committees that monitor countries’ application of human rights and also help interpret them.
• The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESC) has a committee called the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
• The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CROC) has a committee called the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
• These Committees produce reports called ‘General Comments’ which provide more information about the meaning of different human rights.
• An example of this is General Comment No. 14 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
• This General Comment examined what the phrase ‘The right to the highest attainable standard of health’ meant.
• This phrase is found in Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESC).
• The result is a 21-page analysis of what the right to health means and how countries must implement it as well as possible violations of it.
• These General Comments are not binding on countries but should be used as a guide in interpreting human rights law.
• If you have any concerns you can use our free and anonymous Ask a Lawyer service to get information specific to your situation.