Article 17: Right to own property

Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Definitions of the right to own property

The right to own property is enshrined in Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families contains this right in Articles 15, 21 and 32:

Article 15
No migrant worker or member of his or her family shall be arbitrarily deprived of property, whether owned individually or in association with others. Where, under the legislation in force in the State of employment, the assets of a migrant worker or a member of his or her family are expropriated in whole or in part, the person concerned shall have the right to fair and adequate compensation.

Article 21
It shall be unlawful for anyone, other than a public official duly authorized by law, to confiscate, destroy or attempt to destroy identity documents, documents authorizing entry to or stay, residence or establishment in the national territory or work permits. No authorized confiscation of such documents shall take place without delivery of a detailed receipt. In no case shall it be permitted to destroy the passport or equivalent document of a migrant worker or a member of his or her family.

Article 32
Upon the termination of their stay in the State of employment, migrant workers and members of their families shall have the right to transfer their earnings and savings and, in accordance with the applicable legislation of the States concerned, their personal effects and belongings.

The right is also contained in Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights:

The right to property shall be guaranteed. It may only be encroached upon in the interest of public need or in the general interest of the community and in accordance with the provisions of appropriate laws.