Bertrand Ramcharan performed the function of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. He has been Commissioner of the International Commission of Jurists, and Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. He has written extensively on the protection roles of UN human rights organs, focussing on protection gaps in these bodies, with the aim of strengthening protection in international law and practice. He is President of the Human Rights Observatory.

• Challenges of ProtectionForewordPrefaceIntroduction1 Promoting Protection1 Introduction2 The Universal Periodic Review3 Standard-Setting4 Cooperation with National Human Rights Institutions5 Business and Human Rights6 Indigenous Populations7 Minorities8 Slavery and Slavery-Like Practices9 Racism and Racial Discrimination10 Human Rights Defenders11 Studies12 Human Rights Education and Training13 Country Rapporteurs, Thematic Rapporteurs and Working Groups14 World Campaign on Human Rights15 Cooperation with Related UN Organs16 Cooperation with Regional Human Rights Bodies17 Conclusion2 Universality1 Introduction2 The Universal Periodic Review3 Philosophical Universality4 Universality of Human Rights under International Law: The International Bill of Human Rights5 Challenges to Universality6 Defending Universality6.1 The Democratic Test Of Universality6.2 The Bases of Universality6.3 Challenges of Implementation6.4 Normative Universality6.5 Universality in the UN Human Rights Council: The upr Process6.6 Political Universality6.7 The Universality of International Law6.8 Populism and Universality6.9 Global Poverty and Universality6.10 Gross Violations of Human Rights and Universality6.11 Democratic Universality/Peoples’ Universality6.12 Universality as an Idea6.13 Universality as a Goal6.14 Universality as a Normative Concept7 Conclusion3 Protection1 Introduction2 Efforts for International Protection3 The Human Rights Council4 High Commissioner’s Updates to the Human Rights Council on Situations of Concern5 Protection Activities of Special Procedures of the Council6 Conclusion4 Prevention1 Introduction2 Pronouncements of the Council on Prevention3 Preventive Actions of Special Procedures of the Council4 Early Warning from the UN High Commissioner5 Tackling Root Causes of Violations6 Conclusion5 Urgent Action1 Introduction2 Special Sessions of the Council3 Urgent Actions by the President of the Council4 Urgent Actions by the High Commissioner at the Request of the Council5 Conclusion6 Good Offices1 Introduction2 Urgent Communications to Governments3 Confidential Complaints Procedure4 Good Offices by the President of the Human Rights Council5 Conclusion7 Fact-Finding1 Introduction2 Principles of Fact-Finding2.1 Do No Harm2.2 Independence2.3 Impartiality2.4 Transparency2.5 Objectivity2.6 Confidentiality2.7 Credibility2.8 Visibility2.9 Integrity2.10 Professionalism2.11 Consistency3 The Special Procedures and Commissions of Inquiry4 Conclusion8 Redress1 Introduction2 Principles of Redress3 Right to Truth4 Expressions of Concern Over, or Condemnation of Gross Violations5 Accountability6 Transitional Justice7 Evaluation8 Conclusion9 Justice1 Introduction2 The Decline of Democracy in the World3 The Decline of Human Rights Justice in the World4 The Idea of Justice in Philosophical Literature5 The Idea of Justice in the International Bill of Human Rights5.1 Equal Enjoyment of Enumerated Rights5.2 Non-Discrimination5.3 Discrimination Versus Distinction5.4 Affirmative Action5.5 General Comment 4/13 of the Human Rights Committee (Gender Equality)5.6 The Beijing World Conference on Women’s Rights (1995)5.7 Equitable Life Chances6 The Human Rights Council’s Contributions to the Global Quest for Justice7 The Human Rights Council as a Forum for Seeking and Promoting Global Justice7.1 Global Hunger7.2 Widespread Lack of Access to Medicine7.3 Widespread Lack of Access to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation7.4 World-Wide Discrimination Against Women7.5 Child, Early and Forced Marriage in Times of Crisis, Including the covid-19 Pandemic7.6 Pervasive Gross Violations of Human Rights7.7 Afro-Descendants7.8 lgtbq s7.9 Albinism8 Conclusion10 Jurisprudence1 Introduction2 The Architecture of International Law: Principles of the UN Charter3 Normative Instruments: Treaties and Declarations4 Principles on Human Rights and the Environment5 Human Rights and Climate Change6 The Right to Peace7 Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order8 Human Rights: International Cooperation and International Solidarity9 Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights10 National Infrastructure11 Protection of Human Rights While Countering Terrorism12 Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association13 Protection from Arbitrary Detention14 Protection of Human Rights Defenders15 Right to Truth16 Transitional Justice17 Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict18 Right to Food19 Human Rights and Access to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation20 Access to Medicine21 Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights22 Rights of Peasants23 The Human Rights of Older Persons24 Basic Principles and Guidelines on Development-Based Evictions and Displacement25 Trafficking in Persons26 Mercenarism27 ConclusionConclusionBibliographyIndex