1st Edition

The Effectiveness of the UN Human Rights System Reform and the Judicialisation of Human Rights

By Surya Subedi, OBE, QC (Hon) Copyright 2017
    288 Pages
    by Routledge

    304 Pages
    by Routledge

    The UN human rights agenda has reached the mature age of 70 years and many UN mechanisms created to implement this agenda are themselves in their middle-age, yet human rights violations are still a daily occurrence around the globe. The scorecard of the UN human rights mechanisms appears impressive in terms of the promotion, spreading of education and engaging States in a dialogue to promote human rights, but when it comes to holding governments to account for violations of these rights, the picture is much more dismal.

    This book examines the effectiveness of UN mechanisms and suggests measures to reform them in order to create a system that is robust and fit to serve the 21st century. This book casts a critical eye on the rationale and effectiveness of each of the major UN human rights mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council, the human rights treaty bodies, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Special Rapporteurs and other Charter-based bodies. Surya P. Subedi argues most of the UN human rights mechanisms have remained toothless entities and proposes measures to reform and strengthen it by depoliticising the workings of UN human rights mechanisms and judicialising human rights at the international level.

    Preface

    Introduction

    Chapter 1: The place of human rights in the contemporary and globalised world

    Chapter 2: The conceptual and international development of human rights

    Chapter 3: Effectiveness of the UN human rights treaty bodies

    Chapter 4: Effectiveness of the UN Human Rights Council and its challenges

    Chapter 5: Effectiveness of the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights

    Chapter 6: The UN Human Rights Special Rapporteurs and their effectiveness in protecting human rights

    Chapter 7: Effectiveness of other UN charter-based bodies and agencies associated with the UN

    Chapter 8: Reform of the UN human rights system and the judicialisation of human rights at the international level

    Conclusions

    Select Bibliography

    Index

    Biography

    Surya P. Subedi, OBE, QC (Hon), is Professor of International Law at the University of Leeds, member of the Institut de Droit International, former UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Cambodia and barrister at the Three Stone Chambers, Lincoln’s Inn, London.

    Surya P. Subedi offers a scholar's diagnosis of what is wrong with the international human rights system and a practitioner's suggestions to fix it. Drawing on his experiences as an activist, an academic, and as a UN Special Rapporteur, he shows the possibilities and the limitations of this vital body of norms — and how they might translate from words to deeds.

    Professor Simon Chesterman, National University of Singapore and Secretary-General, Asian Society of International Law

    'An effective UN addresses and remedies human rights violations. At present the organization does not deliver. In this accessible book Professor Subedi provides a competent and comprehensive assessment of the UN human rights system which culminates in a compelling plea for reform including concrete and feasible suggestions for change.'

    Karin Arts, Professor of International Law and Development, ISS, The Hague, The Netherlands