This comprehensive Research Handbook considers the place of human security, both in practice and as a concept within international law, examining the preconditions for and consequences of applying human security to international legal thinking and practice. It also proposes a future international law in which human security is central to the law's purpose. Contributions by leading authors in the field critically engage with 25 years of human security practice in different areas of international law and explore the challenges, successes and setbacks of realising human security in a state-based international legal order whilst re-conceptualizing central elements of international law from a human security perspective. Organised around six core themes, the Research Handbook shows how human security can be used as an overarching framework to preserve peace, protect people and counter vulnerability through international law. Progressive and engaging, this Research Handbook will be a key resource for scholars and students of public international law, security, and international relations, who wish to further their knowledge of human security as the central purpose of international law.

It is now widely accepted that international human rights law applies in situations of armed conflict alongside international humanitarian law, but the contours and consequences of this development remain unclear. This book revisits, organizes and contextualizes the debate on human rights in armed conflict and explores the legal challenges, operational consequences and policy implications of resorting to human rights in situations of inter- and intra-state violence. It presents the benefits and the drawbacks of using international human rights law alongside humanitarian law and discusses how the idea, law and policy of human rights influence the development of the law of armed conflict. Based on legal theory, policy analysis, state practice and the work of human rights bodies, it suggests a human rights-oriented reading of the law of armed conflict as feasible and necessary in response to the changing character of war.

It is now widely accepted that international human rights law applies in situations of armed conflict alongside international humanitarian law, but the contours and consequences of this development remain unclear. This book revisits, organizes and contextualizes the debate on human rights in armed conflict and explores the legal challenges, operational consequences and policy implications of resorting to human rights in situations of inter- and intra-state violence. It presents the benefits and the drawbacks of using international human rights law alongside humanitarian law and discusses how the idea, law and policy of human rights influence the development of the law of armed conflict. Based on legal theory, policy analysis, state practice and the work of human rights bodies, it suggests a human rights-oriented reading of the law of armed conflict as feasible and necessary in response to the changing character of war.

COVID-19 and the wide range of emergency measures that governments and policy makers have introduced in the name of fighting the pandemic have shaped our lives over the past year and a half. The thirteenth edition of the European Yearbook on Human Rights takes the opportunity to reflect on the impact that COVID-19 has had on human rights and to assess the proportionality and necessity of state responses to the pandemic in order to ensure a resilient human rights system in the future. Renowned scholars, emerging voices and practitioners provide a cross-section of human rights issues in their contributions. These issues range from the underlying considerations of justice and equality and access to resources, to the protection of core human rights during the pandemic, such as the right to health, the right to hold democratic elections and the protection of vulnerable groups, including the elderly, persons with disabilities and migrants. In this way, the European Yearbook on Human Rights 2021 raises awareness of the complexities of human rights protection during a pandemic and beyond, and stimulates debate and further research in the field in order to ensure that future responses to crises not only pay respect to human rights, but are rooted in them.

The European Yearbook on Human Rights brings together renowned scholars, emerging voices and practitioners. Split into parts devoted to recent developments in the European Union, the Council of Europe and the OSCE as well as through reports from the field, the contributions engage with some of the most important human rights issues and developments in Europe. The Yearbook helps to better understand the rich landscape of the European regional human rights system and is intended to stimulate discussions, critical thinking and further research in this field.

2018 has been another challenging year for human rights in Europe and globally. International human rights standards, the rule of law and international human rights institutions have come under increasing pressure. The eleventh volume of the European Yearbook on Human Rights discusses the backgrounds of these developments and outlines the potential implications and possible solutions. The backsliding of democracy in Poland and Hungary, the human rights fallout from Brexit and the human rights situations in Chechnya and the Ukraine are mentioned as just a few examples. The Yearbook also includes contributions on all-time classics such as the right to freedom of expression or fair trial and tensions between security and the protection of human rights, as well as more recent developments on the rights of persons with disabilities and the rights of children to be heard in political processes. The European Yearbook on Human Rights brings together renowned scholars, emerging voices and practitioners. Split into parts devoted to recent developments in the European Union, the Council of Europe and the OSCE as well as through reports from the field, the contributions engage with some of the most important human rights issues and developments in Europe. The Yearbook helps to better understand the rich landscape of the European regional human rights system and is intended to stimulate discussions, critical thinking and further research in this field.

This book introduces readers to the major human rights institutions, courts, and tribunals and critically assesses their legacy as well as the promise they hold for realizing human rights globally, and the challenges they face in doing so. It traces the rationale of setting up international institutions, courts, and tribunals with the aim of ensuring respect for international human rights law and presents their historic development, and critically analyzes their contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. At the same time, it asks which promises old and new (and envisaged) human rights institutions hold for safeguarding human rights in light of continuing violations and recent global trends in human rights and politics. The first section presents institutions created within the framework of the United Nations. The second part of the volume assesses how international criminal tribunals have reframed human rights violations as individual criminal acts. The third part of the volume is devoted to established and emerging regional human rights bodies and courts around the world.