American Convention on Human Rights - Covenant of San Jose Costa Rica - Art 1 to 10

AMERICAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

 

(Signed at the Inter-American Specialized Conference on Human Rights,

San Jose, Costa Rica, November 22, 1969)

 

PREAMBLE
 

            The American States signatory to this Convention,

 

            Have agreed as follows:


PART I

DUTIES OF STATES AND PROTECTED RIGHTS

 

CHAPTER I

LIABILITY OF DUTIES

 

Article 1. Obligation to respect rights
 

            1. The States Parties to this Convention undertake to respect the rights and freedoms recognized therein and to guarantee their free and full exercise to all persons subject to their jurisdiction, without any discrimination on grounds of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, economic position, birth or any other social condition.

 

            2. For the purposes of this Convention, a person is every human being.

 

Article 2. Duty to adopt provisions of national law
 

            If the exercise of the rights and freedoms referred to in article 1 is not yet guaranteed by laws or otherwise, States Parties undertake to adopt, in accordance with their constitutional requirements and the provisions of this Convention, the laws or regulations of any other nature necessary to make such rights and freedoms effective.

 
CHAPTER II
CIVIL AND POLICY RIGHTS

 

Article 3. Right to recognition of legal personality
 

            Everyone has the right to recognition of their legal personality.

 

Article 4. Right to life
 

            1. Everyone has the right to respect for their lives. This right must be protected by law and generally from the moment of conception. No one can be arbitrarily deprived of life.