A Commentary on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Paul M. Taylor is a Senior Research Fellow at The University of Queensland's TC Beirne School of Law and Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University's Centre for International and Public Law. His principal academic interests are international human rights law, conflict of laws and competition law. Other significant books he has authored include UK and EC Competition Law and Compliance (1999); and Freedom of Religion: UN and European Human Rights Law and Practice (2005).

• 1. Self determination; 2. To 'respect and to ensure' covenant rights; 3. The equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of Covenant rights; 4. Derogation in times of officially proclaimed public emergency threatening the life of the nation; 5. Bar on interpreting the Covenant in abuse of rights; 6. The right to life; 7. Torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 8. Slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour; 9. Liberty and security; 10. Treatment of those deprived of their liberty; 11. Imprisonment for inability to fulfil a contractual obligation; 12. Freedom of movement of the person; 13. Procedural safeguards in the expulsion of aliens; 14. Fair trial rights; 15. Retroactive criminal law; 16. Recognition as a person before the law; 17. Privacy, home, correspondence; 18. Honour and reputation; 19. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion; 20. Freedom of expression; 21. Propaganda for war and hate speech; 22. Freedom of assembly; 23. Freedom of association; 24. Protection for the family; 25. Protection required for children; 26. Right to participate in public affairs, electoral rights and access to public service; 27. Equality before the law, equal protection of the law; 28. Ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.

'Paul Taylor's Commentary is a monumental achievement. It will take its place as an indispensable guide for human rights lawyers everywhere.' Ian Leigh, Professor of Law, Durham University