Next CSE-PPT: 14 March 2027 · Professional & Subprofessional
Civil Service Exam reviewer on international human rights: the UN Charter, the International Bill of Human Rights, CEDAW, the CRC, the Convention against Torture, the Rome Statute and UN human rights bodies.
The Peace and Human Rights area of the Civil Service Exam also covers the international system that protects human rights. This set covers the United Nations and its Charter, the International Bill of Human Rights, the main treaties on women, children, torture, persons with disabilities, refugees and genocide, the International Criminal Court, and the UN bodies that monitor human rights.
Learn each treaty with its year and the group it protects. Several were adopted on dates now marked as international days, which makes them easier to remember, as the explanations show.
Correct answer: D. San Francisco
The UN Charter was signed in San Francisco on 26 June 1945 and came into force on 24 October 1945, now celebrated as United Nations Day. The Philippines was among the founding members.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. Carlos P. Romulo
Carlos P. Romulo signed the UN Charter for the Philippines in 1945 and became the first Asian President of the UN General Assembly in 1949.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The International Bill of Human Rights is made up of the UDHR (1948) and the two Covenants adopted in 1966: the ICCPR and the ICESCR, together with the ICCPR's Optional Protocols.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. 1966
Both Covenants were adopted on 16 December 1966 and entered into force in 1976. They turned the principles of the UDHR into binding treaty obligations.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. Women
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is often called the international bill of rights for women. The Philippine Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710) draws on it.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. 1989
The CRC was adopted on 20 November 1989, which is now observed as World Children's Day. It is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. 18
Article 1 of the CRC defines a child as every human being below the age of eighteen years, unless majority is attained earlier under the law applicable to the child.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. 1984
The Convention against Torture was adopted in 1984. The Philippines gave it effect in domestic law through RA 9745, the Anti-Torture Act of 2009.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. 2006
The CRPD was adopted in December 2006 and promotes the full and equal enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities, including accessibility, education and work.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. 1948
The Genocide Convention was adopted on 9 December 1948, one day before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was one of the first human rights treaties of the United Nations.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. Persecution for reasons such as race, religion, nationality, political opinion or social group
The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees defines a refugee by a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. Non-refoulement
Non-refoulement is a core principle of refugee and human rights law that forbids sending people back to a place where they would face persecution, torture or other serious harm.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. Rome Statute of 1998
The Rome Statute, adopted in 1998, established the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, with effect from 17 March 2019.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. The Hague
The International Court of Justice sits in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, and settles legal disputes between states. It is different from the International Criminal Court, which tries individuals.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. UN Commission on Human Rights
The UN General Assembly created the Human Rights Council in 2006 to replace the Commission on Human Rights. It reviews the human rights record of every UN member through the Universal Periodic Review.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. Universal Periodic Review
Under the Universal Periodic Review, conducted by the Human Rights Council, each UN member's human rights situation is reviewed periodically, and states receive recommendations from other states.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. UNICEF
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, works for children's health, education, protection and rights. UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency and UNESCO deals with education, science and culture.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. UNHCR
UNHCR, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, protects refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people, and helps them find lasting solutions.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. ILO
The International Labour Organization (ILO), founded in 1919, brings together governments, employers and workers to set labour standards and promote decent work and social protection.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. 10 December
Human Rights Day is 10 December, the day the UDHR was adopted in 1948. 24 October is United Nations Day, 20 November is World Children's Day and 21 September is the International Day of Peace.
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