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Essential guide to human rights
Rhona K.M. Smith, Christien van den Anker
July 09, 2005

http://www.globalethics.bham.ac.uk/News_Events/Bookdetails.htm

Foreword
An essential guide such as this provides an opportunity for anyone who has an interest in human rights to become informed of the broad framework, the principles, norms and standards of international human rights. It gives perspective in noting the developments of over more than half a century since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It indicates the legal basis for promoting global justice and ending impunity for gross violations of human rights. It explains the value of a human rights approach to global issues such as tackling poverty and promoting sustainable development.

This guide, in short, is essential reading for all in the spirit of the Preamble to the Universal Declaration, which saw itself "as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Delcaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms..."

The climate of today is, of course, different and challenging. Doubts have been raised as to whether international law itself, including international human rights and humanitarian standards, will be able to deal with the challenges of our new millennium - from global diseases like HIV/AIDS to persistent challenges as extreme poverty. From imbalances in international trade policies which impact on development in the poorest countries to violent conflicts and threats of terrorism, which are no longer confined within borders.

As states shed their power both upwards (to regional and international institutions) and downwards (through decentralisation and to private actors) how can we ensure that governments live up to their existing commitments to human rights? What safeguards are in place to provide redress and protection for citizens whose rights, for example, are violated by private security companies contracted by the state? What role will the International Criminal Court play in cases involving international actors? To whom are multinational corporations held accountable for their actions? How much reform is necessary for the appropriate international organisations to ensure equitable trade, effective development policies and the ability for states and citizens alike to take effective action when human rights have been violated or have not been progressively implemented? These are some of the important issues of our time and ones which I believe can be addressed through the principles and tools inherent in the international human rights system.

The authors whose scholarship is presented in this Essentials of Human Rights collectively illustrate that human rights are more relevant than ever to the most pressing global concerns - and indeed are a powerful set of standards and legal commitments which can help to bridge the vast divides in our world.

I welcome this guide as a source book and a valuable contribution to a deeper understanding of the universality of human rights and the need for constant dialogue on how to imbed human rights values in different cultures in a way which tackles discrimination and protects minorities. If we can build on these shared values, this century can, after such a difficult beginning, become one of human development and human security for all - a century of human rights and peace.

Mary Robinson

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