The new High Commissioner has a particular responsibility to protect human rights defenders, especially so when they face intimidation and reprisals for their efforts to seek accountability at the UN for human rights violations. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on the New High Commiss
The new High Commissioner has the opportunity to grasp the torch lit by his predecessors and fully embrace and defend an uncompromising stance for women’s equality - and his legacy will be judged on his commitment to doing so. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on the New High Commissio
The new High Commissioner for Human Rights must above all be an advocate who puts his authority and energy at the service of those people whose rights to life and physical integrity are under threat. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on the New High Commissioner of Human Rights.
The recent reform of the UN’s rights-monitoring bodies falls far short of expectations, and fails to reach out to those whose rights are most in need of protection. The new High Commissioner needs a fresh approach. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on the New High Commissioner of Human
The independent experts (or ‘Special Procedures’) appointed by the UN to monitor human rights worldwide are the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the UN system - the new High Commissioner needs to move quickly to defend their independence and ensure they get the support they need. A contribution to the open
A new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has just been appointed - Prince Zeid, Jordan’s UN Ambassador in New York. He will need to move quickly to improve the visibility and viability of the Office’s mandate in a changing global environment. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on the
Many human rights advocates work with people and/or communities who believe in a God or gods, but few are actually talking about the specifics of those beliefs. Understanding the people and communities with whom they work, however, is the foundation of effective human rights practice. A contributi
It’s not useful to debate whether human rights derive from religion or to include religious leaders only as token voices. What we need are authentic alliances with faith groups that harness the real power of the rights movement: a belief that we are all equal in dignity and rights. A contribution
The ability of India, Brazil and South Africa to emerge as moral voices from the south to reclaim the human rights narrative is not in doubt, but their willingness to take the global centre-stage is certainly in question. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on Emerging Powers and Human R
Social and economic rights are laudable goals, but qualifying them as “rights” may actually do more harm than good. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on Emerging Powers and Human Rights. Español
Human rights need God because three ingredients are critical to their validity: universal moral norms, human dignity, and their “trump card” status. These ingredients are found most vividly in religions grounded in the revelations of God. They are also rooted in reason, but reason itself points to
The recent Congress of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers prioritized “lawyering for people’s rights,” but what does this really mean? Should we push for more use of human rights declarations written by elites, or is it time for “the people” themselves to set the agenda? From the
