Human rights are the only universally recognized system of contemporary values which, during the last 50 years, has been gradually developed and defined by all States in a comprehensive international legal framework. The international human rights regime is closely related to international peace and security, development and a global trend towards pluralist democracy, good governance and the rule of law. International humanitarian and criminal law can today be considered as specific aspects of international human rights law, which after the end of the Cold War has become increasingly complex...

Human rights are the only universally recognized system of contemporary values which, during the last 50 years, has been gradually developed and defined by all States in a comprehensive international legal framework. The international human rights regime is closely related to international peace and security, development and a global trend towards pluralist democracy, good governance and the rule of law. International humanitarian and criminal law can today be considered as specific aspects of international human rights law, which after the end of the Cold War has become increasingly complex...

Als Sonderberichterstatter über Folter der Vereinten Nationen hat der renommierte Menschenrechtsexperte Manfred Nowak in den Jahren 2004 bis 2010 die Folterpraktiken und Haftbedingungen weltweit untersucht. Unter dem Schutz der UNO war es ihm möglich, die Haftstätten mit seinem Team unangekündigt und unbeobachtet zu inspizieren, vertrauliche Gespräche mit Häftlingen zu führen und die Spuren der Folter zu dokumentieren. In mehr als 90 Prozent aller Staaten kommt Folter vor, in der überwiegenden Mehrheit wird sie routinemäßig von der Polizei zur Erpressung von Geständnissen oder...