Human Rights: A Very Short IntroductionToday it is usually not long before a problem gets expressed as a human rights issue. An appeal to human rights in the face of injustice can be a heartfelt and morally justified demand for some, while for others it remains merely an empty slogan. Taking an international perspective and focusing on highly topical issues such as torture, arbitrary detention, privacy, health and discrimination, this Very Short Introduction will help readers to understand for themselves the controversies and complexities behind this vitally relevant issue. Looking at the philosophical justification for rights, the historical origins of human rights and how they are formed in law, Andrew 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
The historical development of international human rights | |
Human rights foreign policy and the role of the United | |
The international crime of torture | |
Legitimate restrictions on freedom | |
Balancing rights the issue of privacy | |
Food education health housing and work | |
Discrimination and equality | |
The death penalty | |
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Africa Amnesty International Article Chapter child claims Commission committed Committee concept concern considered Constitutional context Convention Covenant crimes against humanity Cultural Rights death penalty Declaration of Human degrading treatment democratic detainees detention dignity discrimination economic enforcement ensure equal force freedom of expression genocide global governments groups Guantánamo Bay human rights foreign human rights law human rights movement human rights protection human rights treaties human rights violations Human Rights Watch idea individual inhuman interests International Criminal Court international human rights international law labour liberty limited Louise Arbour Mary Robinson military Oxford University Press persons prevent prisoners prohibition punishment Radislav Krstic responsibility right to education right to food right to health right to privacy rights foreign policy Rwanda sexual slavery Social and Cultural society torture trafficking Tribunal UN General Assembly UN’s United Nations Universal Declaration violence against women war crimes workers