Which treaty is NOT among Australia's seven core international human rights treaties?

• A. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• B. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• C. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• D. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that a treaty is a binding international agreement that creates legal obligations for states that ratify it, whereas a declaration does not impose the same legal duties. Australia’s seven core international human rights treaties are binding instruments: the Civil and Political Rights Covenant, the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Covenant, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention Against Torture, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, while foundational and highly influential in shaping human rights norms, is a declaration, not a binding treaty. It does not itself obligate states in international law in the same way the seven core treaties do, which is why it’s not counted among them.