U.S. Treaty Reports
United Nations human rights treaties require that States Parties report periodically on their implementation of their treaty obligations. These comprehensive reports involve substantial coordination with relevant U.S. Government agencies. The United States has submitted the following treaty reports (and related documents).
Jump to the following sections:
- Memoranda and Related Correspondence Regarding U.S. Human Rights Treaty Reports
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
- Convention Against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
- Convention On the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
- U.S. Reports Concerning the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict
- U.S. Reports Concerning the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
State Party as of September 8, 1992 [treaty text]
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Report on the ICCPR [890 Kb] -- 03/24/92
- Initial Report of the United States of America to the UN Committee on Human Rights Concerning the ICCPR -- 08/24/94
- Updated Core Document Forming Part of the Reports of the United States of America --10/21/05
- Second and Third Periodic Report of the United States of America to the UN Committee on Human Rights Concerning the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights --10/21/05
- List of Issues To Be Taken Up in Connection With the Consideration of the Second and Third Periodic Reports of the United States of America -- 07/17/06
- Opening Remarks by Wan Kim on the Report Concerning the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) -- 07/17/06
- Opening Remarks by Ambassador Tichenor on the Report Concerning the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) -- 07/17/06
- Opening Statement by Matthew Waxman on the Report Concerning the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) -- 07/17/06
- Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee with respect to the U.S. Government's report (Eighty-Seventh Session, 10-28 Jul 2006)
- U.S. Government's 1-year Follow-up Report to the Committee's Conclusions & Recommendations (PDF version) -- 10/10/07
- ICCPR Follow-up Addendum [90 Kb] -- 09/24/09
- Fourth Periodic Report of the United States of America to the United Nations Committee on Human Rights Concerning the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights -- 12/30/11
- Common Core Document of the United States of America: Submitted With the Fourth Periodic Report of the United States of America to the United Nations Committee on Human Rights concerning the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Annex A to the Common Core Document of the United States: State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Human Rights Organizations and Programs -- 12/30/11
- United States Written Responses to Questions From the United Nations Human Rights Committee Concerning the Fourth Periodic Report -- 07/3/13
- Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee [90 Kb] -- 03/28/14
- One-Year Follow-up Response of the United States of America to Priority Recommendations of the Human Rights Committee on its Fourth Periodic Report on Implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [1746 Kb] -- 03/31/15
Convention Against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
State Party as of November 20, 1994 [treaty text]
- Initial Report of the United States of America to the Committee Against Torture [ 295 Kb] -- 02/09/00
- Second Periodic Report of the United States of America to the Committee Against Torture [ PDF version ] -- 05/06/05
- Tab 1: Declarations on Transfers of Detainees from Guantanamo Bay - Matthew C. Waxman -- 05/06/05
- Tab 1: Declarations on Transfers of Detainees from Guantanamo Bay - Pierre-Richard Prosper -- 05/06/05
- Update to Annex 1 of the Second Periodic Report of the United States of America to the Committee Against Torture --10/21/05
- Tab 1: Declarations on Transfers of Detainees from Guantanamo Bay - Matthew C. Waxman -- 10/21/05
- Tab 1: Declarations on Transfers of Detainees from Guantanamo Bay - Pierre-Richard Prosper -- 10/21/05
- List of Issues to Be Considered during Examination of the Second Periodic Report of the United States of America (Thirty-Fifth Session, 7-25 Nov 2005)
- Response of the United States to the List of Issues
- United States Written Response to Questions Asked by the Committee Against Torture [ 1154 Kb] PDF version -- 04/28/06
- U.S. Meeting with U.N. Committee Against Torture -- 05/05/06
- Opening Statement for U.S. Hearing at Committee Against Torture -- 05/05/06
- United States' Response to the Questions Asked by the Committee Against Torture -- 05/05/06
- The United States' Oral Response to the Questions Asked by the Committee Against Torture -- 05/08/06
- U.S. Delegation Departure Statement -- 05/09/06
- Concluding Observations of the Committee Against Torture with respect to the U.S. Government's report (Thirty-Sixth Session, 1-19 May 2006)
- U.S. Government's 1-year Follow-up Report to the Committee's Conclusions & Recommendations [130 Kb] PDF version -- 07/25/07
- Annex 1: Declaration of Clint Williamson [362 Kb] -- 07/25/07
- Annex 2: Department of Defense Directive 2310.01E [71 Kb] -- 07/25/07
- Annex 3: Army Field Manual 2-22.3, Human Intelligence Collector Operations [4692 Kb] -- 07/25/07
- Annex 4: Military Commissions Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-366) [126 Kb] -- 07/25/07
- Annex 5: Sexual Violence Reported by Correctional Authorities, 2005 (Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics) [339 Kb] -- 07/25/07
- Annex 6: Department of Homeland Security, "Hurricane Katrina: What Government Is Doing" [270 Kb] -- 07/25/07
- Periodic Report of the United States of America to the Committee Against Torture [ PDF version ] -- 08/12/13
- Concluding Observations and Recommendations of the Committee Against Torture with Respect to the U.S. Government's Third-Fifth Periodic Report (November 2014)
- One-Year Follow-up Response of the United States of America to Recommendations of the Committee Against Torture on its Combined Third to Fifth Periodic Reports on Implementation of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment -- 11/27/15
Convention On the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
State Party as of November 20, 1994 [treaty text]
- Senate Report with U.S. Reservations, Understandings, and Declarations [1540 Kb] -- 06/02/94
- Initial Report of the United States of America to the Committee On the Elimination of Racial Discrimination [ 390 Kb] -- 10/10/00
- Periodic Report of the United States of America to the Committee On the Elimination of Racial Discrimination [ 750 Kb] PDF version -- 04/23/07
- CERD Annex I (PDF version)
- CERD Annex II (PDF version)
- CERD Annex II - Tab A [541 Kb]
- CERD Annex II - Tab B [273 Kb]
- CERD Annex III (PDF version)
- Questions Put by the Rapporteur in Connection with the Consideration of the Combined Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Periodic Reports of the United States of America [25 Kb] -- 03/07/08
- Written Responses to Questions Put by the Rapporteur in Connection with the Consideration of the Combined Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Periodic Reports of the United States of America [847 Kb] -- 03/07/08
- Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination [115 Kb] -- 05/08/08
- U.S. Government's 1-year Follow-up Report to the Committee's Concluding Observations [137 Kb] -- 01/13/09
- Periodic Report of the United States of America to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (June 2013) [PDF version] -- 06/12/13
- Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination [256 Kb] -- 08/26/14
- One-Year Follow-up Response of the United States of America to Priority Recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in its Concluding Observations on the Combined Seventh to Ninth Periodic Reports of the United States of America [PDF version] -- 09/21/15
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict
State Party as of January 23, 2003 [treaty text]
-- Initial Report Concerning the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict PDF version -- 06/22/07
- Annex I: U.S. War Crimes Statute
- Annex II: Accessions of Individuals Below Age 18 to U.S. Armed Services
- Annex III: Military Recruiting and Recruiter Irregularities
- Annex IV: U.S. Asylum Seekers from Conflict-Affected Countries: Individuals under 18 Who Filed as Principal Applicants
- Annex V: Unaccompanied Minors who were Principal Applicants for Refugee Status
- Annex VI: DHS Interviews of Unaccompanied Minors who were Principal Applicants for Refugee
- Annex VII: Defensive Asylum Applications Filed by Juveniles in their Own Right
- List of Issues to Be Taken Up in Connection with the Consideration of the Initial Report of the United States of America (Forty-Eighth Session, 19 May - 6 Jun, 2008)
- Written Replies by the Government of the United States of America Concerning the List of Issues (Forty-Eighth Session, 19 May - 6 Jun, 2008)
- Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of a Child
-- Second Periodic Report Concerning the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and Response to Recommendations in Committee Concluding Observations of June 25, 2008 [523 Kb] -01/22/10
- Annex 1: Data Report: 17 Year-Old Recruits (Accessions) [26 Kb]
- Annex 2: U.S. Asylum-Seekers from Conflict-Affected Countries [119 Kb]
- Annex 3: Unaccompanied Minors who were Principal Applicants for Refugee Status (Conflict-Affected Countries) [29 Kb]
- Annex 4: Department of Homeland Security Interviews of Unaccompanied Minors from Conflict-Affected Countries who were Principal Applicants for Refugee Status [62 Kb]
- Annex 5: Defensive Asylum Applications Filed by Juveniles from Conflict-Affected Countries in their Own Right [12 Kb]
- Annex 6: Military Recruiting and Recruiter Irregularities [133 Kb]
- Annex 7: Text of Recent Relevant Legislation (CSPA and CSAA) [102 Kb]
-- List of issues concerning additional and updated information related to the consideration of the Second Periodic Report of the United States (November 2012)
-- Concluding observations on the second report of the United States of America submitted under article 8 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the involvement of children in armed conflict, adopted by the Committee at its sixty-second session (14 January-1 February 2013)
-- See Combined U.S. Third and Fourth Periodic Report on the Children's Protocols
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
State Party as of January 23, 2003 [treaty text]
-- Initial Report Concerning the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography PDF version -- 07/16/07
-- United States Written Response to Questions Asked by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (5/13/2008)
-- List of Issues to Be Taken Up in Connection with the Consideration of the Initial Report of the United States of America (Forty-Eighth Session, 19 May - 6 Jun, 2008)
-- Responses of the United States of America to additional questions from Ms. Rosa Maria Ortiz, Vice Chair, Committee on the Rights of the Child (May 23, 2008)
-- Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of a Child
- Annex 1: Principal Statutes Cited in the U.S. Periodic Report
- Annex 2: Biennial Comprehensive Research and Statistical Review and Analysis of Severe Forms of Trafficking, Sex Trafficking, and Unlawful Commercial Sex Acts in the United States
- Annex 3: USG Funds Obligated in FY 2008 for Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Projects
- Annex 4: Department of Education Cover Letter and Fact Sheet
- Annex 5A: Sale of Organs and Related Statutes [86 Kb]
- Annex 5B: Sale, Kidnapping, Trafficking for Adoption and Related Statutes [86 Kb]
- Annex 6: U.S. Submission to the World Congress III [339 Kb]
-- List of issues concerning additional and updated information related to the consideration of the Second Periodic Report of the United States (November 2012)
-- Concluding observations on the second periodic report of the United States of America submitted under article 12 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, adopted by the Committee at its sixty-second session (14 January-1 February 2013)
-- See Combined U.S. Third and Fourth Periodic Report on the Children's Protocols
Combined U.S. Third and Fourth Periodic Report on the Children's Protocols
- Glossary of Acronyms -- 02/08/16
- OPAC Annex 1 - Declaration Filed by the United States Pursuant to Article 3(2) of the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict -- 02/08/16
- OPAC Annex 2 - Voluntary Recruits (Accessions) of Persons Under 18 -- 02/08/16
- OPAC Annex 3 - Defensive Asylum Applications Filed by Juveniles from Conflict-Affected Countries; Unaccompanied Minors Arrived to the United States as Principal Applicants on Refugee Cases from Conflict-Affected Countries; U.S. Asylum-Seekers from Conflict-Affected Countries: Individuals Under 18 Who Filed as Principal Applicants -- 02/08/16
- OPAC Annex 4 - Military Recruiting (Accessions) and Recruiter Irregularities -- 02/08/16
- OPAC Annex 5 - USAID Efforts to Address the Unlawful Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers -- 02/08/16
- OPSC Annex 1 - Federal Strategic Action Plan Appendices A and B -- 02/08/16
- OPSC Annex 2 - Text of Recently Enacted Laws -- 02/08/16
- OPSC Annex 3 - U.S. Government Funds Obligated in Fiscal Year 2014 for Human Trafficking Projects -- 02/08/16
- OPSC Annex 4 - Data on Arrests, Pleas, and Trials for Crimes Against Children, Including Child Pornography -- 02/08/16
- OPSC Annex 5 - Eligibility Letters for Children and Certification Letters for Adults; Continued Presence; Applications for T Nonimmigrant Status and Petitions for U Nonimmigrant Status -- 02/08/16
- Updates to the Common Core Document of the United States of America -- 02/08/16
Memoranda Regarding U.S. Human Rights Treaty Reports
- U.S. Human Rights Treaty Reports: Memorandum for Executive Branch Agencies--Transmitted 12/17/09
- U.S. Human Rights Treaty Reports: Memorandum for State Governors--Transmitted 01/21/10
- U.S. Human Rights Treaty Reports: Memorandum for DC Mayor Fenty--Transmitted 01/21/10
- U.S. Human Rights Treaty Reports: Memorandum for Governors of U.S. Territories--Transmitted 01/21/10
Other Letters to State/Local/Insular/Tribal Governments Regarding U.S. Human Rights Treaty Reports
- Letters requesting information for ICCPR, CERD, and CAT periodic reports:
- Letter to Governors of U.S. States & Territories (May 2010) [PDF version]
- Letter to State & Local Human Rights Commissions (May 2010) [PDF version]
- Letters with questionnaire for CERD and CAT periodic reports:
- Letter to Governors of U.S. States (December 2010) [PDF version]
- Letter to Governors of U.S. Territories (December 2010) [PDF version]
- Letter to State & Local Human Rights Commissions (December 2010) [PDF version]
- Letter to DC Mayor (December 2010) [PDF version]
- Letter to Tribal Leaders (April 2011) [PDF version]
- Letters regarding 2014-15 treaty report presentations and Universal Periodic Review (with attachment [PDF version]):
- Letter to Governors of U.S. States & Territories (February 2014) [PDF version]
- Letter to DC Mayor (February 2014) [PDF version]
- Letter to Tribal Leaders (February 2014) [PDF version]
- Letters regarding treaty body recommendations, Universal Periodic Review, and Childrens' Protocol report (with attachment [PDF version]):
- Letter to Governors of U.S. States & Territories (April 2015) [PDF version]
- Letter to DC Mayor (April 2015) [PDF version]
- Letter to Tribal Leaders (April 2015) [PDF version]