Introductory Note to United Nations Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right of Anyone Deprived of Their Liberty to Bring Proceedings before a Court

On April 29, 2015, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) adopted the United Nations Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right of Anyone Deprived of Their Liberty to Bring Proceedings Before a Court (BPGs). This comprehensive and practical document is based on an extensive range of international law sources, standards, and good practice. It provides states with specific and specialized guidance on how to fulfill their international obligations to protect against the arbitrary deprivation of liberty. This note, the final version of which was published in the Volume 55 No. 2 issue of the International Legal Materials, explains the context, content and significance of this document.