International Instruments

International instruments are the formal means through which the international community establishes, expresses, and enforces legal and normative commitments among States. They include both binding agreements and non-binding declarations that define global standards of conduct and cooperation. U.N. Conventions, Protocols, and Declarations set out legal obligations and policy principles on issues such as human rights, development, and security. Consensus Documents record collectively negotiated outcomes that represent political commitments or shared understandings without treaty status. General Recommendations clarify and interpret treaty provisions to guide States in implementation. When adopted under the U.N. Charter, Security Council Resolutions carry binding authority and may impose sanctions, authorize peacekeeping missions, or establish international tribunals. By contrast, international mechanisms are the institutional bodies and procedures created to apply, monitor, or enforce these instruments; translating written obligations into ongoing oversight, reporting, and accountability within the international system. Below are curated lists of international instruments related to gender justice issues, with links to those resources. 

International Instruments