Right to Freedom of Movement and Residence
Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 13).
Everyone lawfully within the territory of a state, shall have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 12).
Freedom of movement is also a prerequisite to the exercise of other rights, such as those in the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Among these are the right to work (Article 6), the right to an adequate standard of living (Article 11), the right to health (Article 12), the right to education (Article 13), and the right to protection of family life (Article 10).
Documents of interest
- Israel’s violations of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights with respect to freedom of movement in the occupied Palestinian territory, Al-Haq. July 2, 2010
- Israel refuses to allow a lawyer to leave Gaza to reach her studies in democracy and human rights in the West Bank, Gisha, July 1, 2010
- New Procedure -Israel bars Palestinians in Gaza from moving to West Bank, Gisha & Hamoked, June 16, 2009