This Fact Sheet provides a general introduction to the core international human rights treaties and their committees. It shows to what extent they can, and do, function together as a single, holistic and integrated system for the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. Chapter I presents the nine core international human rights treaties currently in force and their optional protocols. Chapter II presents the work of their treaty bodies. Chapter III surveys the challenges facing the human rights treaty system. The Fact Sheet also contains a glossary of technical terms.