On 16th December 1966 the General Assembly adopted and opened for signatures, ratification and accession of three International Covenants on Human Rights: (i) International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. (ii) International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural rights. (iii) The optional protocol to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. Based on Universal Declaration of Human Rights the covenants were submitted to UN members for ratification after approved by General Assembly in 1976. They were ratified by 35 States and came into effect in 1976. The second protocol came into force in 1991. Together they constituted the International Bill of Human Rights. Both the covenants have force of law and are binding on ratifying countries.