This book is a guide to international human rights law as it applies to situations of armed conflict, to counter-terrorism measures and to any other situation of actual or potential violence requiring security measures. These situations can lead to some of the most fundamental human rights being put in danger of being violated. These include the right to life, the prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment, enforced disappearance, all the rights relating to detention and due process of law, and the freedoms most commonly affected by armed conflict and counter-terrorism. The book begins with a presentation on the application of human rights to such situations and an explanation of the regime of limitations and derogations. After an overall description of the relationship between human rights law, on the one hand, and international humanitarian law and international counter-terrorism measures, on the other, the book concentrates on the rights themselves. Each chapter presents the relevant treaty provisions and explains the interpretation of the rights by reference to the case law and general comments of these treaty bodies. The book concludes with a section on how international human rights law protects certain vulnerable and disadvantaged populations in such situations.

This book reinforces our knowledge and understanding of the problems involved in balancing human rights protection and security concerns, considering how these human rights issues have been raised by the various international debates and policy issues which have been created by the continuing global war on terrorism. In the shadow of 9/11 the threat of terrorism is an ever increasing global preoccupation. Terrorism and Human Rights discusses the effects of the legal and social aspects of terrorism by examining the relation between security issues and human rights from the angle of international organizations, political bodies and different countries. Some of the examples covered and which are examined in light of their approach and reaction to terrorism include the European Union, the UN, Russia and the United States. Previously published as a special issue of Terrorism and Political Violence, this volume will be useful for all students of security, politics and terrorism studies, but also for policy makers, legislators, and law enforcers.

This timely book explores the extent to which national security has affected the intersection between human rights and the exercise of state power. It examines how liberal democracies, long viewed as the proponents and protectors of human rights, have transformed their use of human rights on the global stage, externalizing their own internal agendas.

'Human rights and conflict' is divided into three parts, each capturing the role played by human rights at a different stage in the conflict cycle.

How does globalisation affect the ability of human rights to constrain power? This is the central question of this volume that tackles the issue from a variety of perspectives. It covers such branches of international law and human rights as diplomatic protection, powers of the UN Security Council, responsibility of international organisations, accountability of multinational corporations, third-generation rights, law of armed conflict, and state sovereignty. The contributions problematize the role of human rights and call for rethinking of the structure and functioning of human rights. The contributions adopt a variety of disciplinary perspectives that all elucidate difficulties human rights face in a globalised world and suggest ways forward.

The four Geneva Conventions, adopted in 1949, remain the fundamental basis of contemporary international humanitarian law. They protect the wounded and sick on the battlefield, those wounded, sick or shipwrecked at sea, prisoners of war, and civilians in time of war. However, since they were adopted warfare has changed considerably. In this groundbreaking commentary over sixty international law experts investigate the application of the Geneva Conventions and explain how they should be interpreted today. It places the Conventions in the light of the developing obligations imposed by international law on states, armed groups, and individuals, most notably through international human rights law and international criminal law. The context in which the Conventions are to be applied and interpreted has changed considerably since they were first written. The borderline between international and non-international armed conflicts is not as clear-cut as was once thought, and is complicated further by the use of armed force mandated by the United Nations and the complex mixed and transnational nature of certain non-international armed conflicts. The influence of other developing branches of international law, such as human rights law and refugee law has been considerable. The development of international criminal law has breathed new life into multiple provisions of the Geneva Conventions. This commentary adopts a thematic approach to provide detailed analysis of each key issue dealt with by the Conventions, taking into account both judicial decisions and state practice. Cross-cutting chapters on issues such as transnational conflicts and the geographical scope of the Conventions also give readers a full understanding of the meaning of the Geneva Conventions in their contemporary context. Prepared under the auspices of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, this commentary on four of the most important treaties in international law is unmissable for anyone working in or studying situations of armed conflicts.

The tragic events of 11 September 2001 have led to an intensification of measures against terrorism both at the level of states and international organisations. New laws and resolutions have been passed in order to strengthen national and international action against terrorism. Some of these measures violate human rights and have been introduced without respect for obligatory procedures under international human rights conventions for derogations in cases of emergency. This development has given rise to much concern worldwide. In order to analyse the many (human rights) questions posed by the intensified struggle against terrorism, a symposium was organised, on the initiative of the Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights (MFHR) of Athens, by the European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC) in Graz and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna together with the MFHR. This volume brings together most of the contributions to this high-level and in-depth discussion in edited, updated form. Among the issues analysed are the dangers entailed in the new doctrine of pre-emptive wars, the issue of the prevention of terrorism through measures addressing its causes and the strengthening of human security. The volume also contains an annex with major documents relating to the question of human rights and terrorism at universal and regional levels prepared by international organisations and NGO's, which represents a useful handbook on the topic. Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights (MFHR). Established in 1978 in Athens, Greece. Its main purposes are the research, study, defense, protection and promotion of generally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms.Within this framework, MFHR takes a special interest in the advancement of formal and informal education on human rights, the raising of public awareness and the adoption by States or international organisations of measures protecting human rights, peace and the development of democratic institutions. For more details, see: http: //www.mfhr.gr European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC) has been established in the year 2000, in the city of Graz, the first Human Rights City in Europe. It is a non-governmental organisation which is linked to the University of Graz through a cooperation agreement. The ETC has a particular focus on South-Eastern Europe, where it helped creating a network of human rights centres. In its training and research activities it is supported by an international advisory board. A particular focus of its training and research programmes is the relationship between human rights and human security, non-discrimination, migration, democracy and human rights at the local level. For more details, see: http: //www.etc-graz.at.

Immigration and its consequences is a substantially contested subject with hugely differing viewpoints. While some contend that criminal participation by migrants is the result of environmental factors found in the host country that are beyond the control of migrants, others blame migrants for all that is wrong in their communities. In this book, experts from Europe, the USA, Turkey and Israel examine recent developments in the fields of culture conflict, organized crime, victimization and terrorism, all of which intersect to varying degrees with migration and illegal conduct. While the essays further our understanding of a variety of issues surrounding migration, at the same time they illuminate the complexities of managing the challenges as globalization increases.

A series of international human rights treaties and other instruments adopted since 1945 have conferred legal status on inherent human rights and developed the body of international human rights law. However, human rights violations are a fact of life in all countries, though to differing degrees. These violations involve all kinds of rights: civil, cultural, social, economic, and political. Access to justice is a basic human right, as well as an indispensable means of combating poverty and preventing and resolving conflict. Access to justice means much more than improving an individual’s access to courts. It is about ensuring that legal and judicial outcomes are just and equitable and that systems work in practice for the poor and disadvantaged, who tend to get victimized by corrupt or indifferent officials, without having a reasonable chance to seek legal remedies for their grievances. This book contains 62 international documents dealing with human rights and the administration of justice under one cover. The chapters have been so organized as to provide easy reference based on the status of the victim. This handy reference is a must for members of the armed forces and police, legal fraternity, NGOs, human rights activists, academicians and researchers.

This book is an outcome of a two-day international conference convened to discuss the changing notion of human rights from different perspectives. While focusing on the increasing relevance of human rights in an era of globalization, the book analyses the various legal-political, socio-economic, gender, ecological and international dimensions of this issue. From the large number of papers presented at the conference, sixteen articles have been selected for this volume. These are presented in four parts: namely, politico-legal, socio-economic, ecological and gender, and the transnational. The introductory section presents the major issues and concerns highlighted by the editors and carries the keynote address by Professor Yogesh Atal. Written by both young and veteran social scientists, the book presents a unique combination of theoretical and practical studies of human rights in comparative perspectives. The book will attract readership from the academe, human rights activists, and the concerned citizenry, and will be useful to students of law, political science, public administration, and sociology.