Human Rights: A Very Short IntroductionToday it is usually not long before a problem gets expressed as a human rights issue. Indeed, human rights law continues to gain increasing attention internationally, and must move quickly in order to keep up with a social world that changes so rapidly. This Very Short Introduction, in its second edition, brings the issue of human rights up to date, considering the current controversies surrounding the movement. Discussing torture and arbitrary detention in the context of counter terrorism, Andrew Clapham also considers new challenges to human rights in the context of privacy, equality and the right to health. Looking at the philosophical justification for rights, the historical origins of human rights and how they are formed in law, Clapham explains what our human rights actually are, what they might be, and where the human rights movement is heading. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
Contents
1 | |
Historical development and contemporary concerns | 27 |
Human rights foreign policy and the role of the United Nations | 63 |
Torture | 83 |
Deprivations of life and liberty | 98 |
Balancing rightsfree speech and privacy | 110 |
Food education health housing and work | 122 |
Discrimination and equality | 140 |
The death penalty | 153 |
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Common terms and phrases
Amnesty International Article attack Chapter civil and political claims committed concept concern considered constitute context Convention Court of Human Covenant crimes against humanity Cultural Rights David death penalty degrading treatment democratic detention discrimination economic enforcement ensure equal European Court freedom of expression genocide governments groups Guantánamo Guantánamo Bay human dignity Human Rights Council human rights law human rights movement human rights protection human rights treaties human rights violations idea individuals inhuman or degrading International Criminal International Criminal Court international human rights international law justice liberty Magna Carta monitoring non-discrimination non-governmental organizations obligations organizations Oxford University Press persons with disabilities prisoners prohibited prosecution Radislav Krstić relevant respect right to food right to health sentenced sexual Short Introduction slavery society Sri Lanka terrorist texts threat torture trafficking trial Tribunal UN’s United Nations Universal Declaration violence against women war crimes