The vindication of human rights is a critical challenge of a new century. Yet, there is much contestation over rights in a globalizing, post 9/11 world, as human rights ideas come into contact with different cultures and with societies in varying stages of development. Leaders of government and civil society, and the academic world, are in need of policy and normative frameworks for treading the way forward in responding to these global challenges.

Written by a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (2003-2004), this book is a much needed, short and accessible...

This text identifies the need for preventive human rights strategies, maps what exists by way of such strategies at the present time, and offers policy options to deal with the world of the future.

The human rights idea is shaping the contemporary world. At long last, human rights are being given the prominence they deserve by the organs of the international community dealing with questions of peace and security as well as with development. How is the Security Council dealing with human rights imperatives? What does it see as the place of human rights in conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding? How does it address the quest for justice in the face of gross violations of human rights? These and other similar questions are addressed in this book, the first of its...

The UN Human Rights Council is the leading human rights organ of the United Nations and, ten years after it was established, it has attracted commendation as well as severe criticism. Its universal periodic review is widely recognized as a valuable process of international cooperation to advance the universal implementation of human rights. However, it has been criticized for not acting effectively and fairly in dealing with situations of shocking violations of human rights in many parts of the world. It is an international organ with the highest responsibilities to uphold universal values...