International Human Rights: A Comprehensive Introduction

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to international human rights: international human rights law, why international human rights have increasingly risen to world prominence, what is being done about violations of human rights, and what might be done to further promote the cause of international human rights so that everyone may one day have their rights respected regardless of who they are or where they live.

It explains:

how the concept of international human rights has developed over time
the variety of types of human rights
empirical findings from statistical research on human rights
a listing of all international human rights agreements
the newest dimensions in the field of human rights (gay rights, animal rights, environmental rights).


Richly illustrated throughout with case studies, controversies, court cases, think points, historical examples, biographical statements, and suggestions for further reading, International Human Rights is the ideal introduction for all students of human rights.

Michael Haas devoted most of his career as a Professor of Political Science at the University of Hawai`i to teaching, research, and public service centring on human rights. He not only filed civil rights complaints that resulted in the adoption of affirmative action in the Aloha State to benefit all races, including Caucasians, Filipinos, and Native Hawaiians, but he also played a role in stopping the secret funding by Washington that reached the Khmer Rouge during the 1980s. He recently conferred honorary doctorate degrees in his current role as Chair of the International Academic Advisory Council at the University of Cambodia.

1. Introduction 2. The Philosophical Basis for Human Rights 3. The Historical Basis for Human Rights 4. The Contemporary Basis for Human Rights 5. Civil and Political Rights 6. Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights 7. Crimes Against Humanity, Crimes Against Peace, & War Crimes 8. Quantitative Dimensions 9. United Nations Charter-Based Organizations 10. Other Treaty-Based Global International Organizations 11. American Approaches to International Human Rights 12. European Approaches to International Human Rights 13. Third World Approaches to International Human Rights 14. New Dimensions & Challenges