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Through its 11 chapters, Our Freedoms explores significant landmarks and themes in international human rights law, drawing together issues from across the legal, social and political spectrums. Chapters touch on such diverse areas as terrorism, corporate responsibility, women’s rights, victims’ compensation, freedom of expression, conflict resolution, the independence of judges and attorneys, and the articulation of human rights relating to sexuality. The book highlights the presence and breadth of the human rights agenda on the world stage, as well as illustrating the ways in which the issues discussed impact on different aspects of day-to-day life.

A key theme of the 21st century, and therefore an important component of the book, involves the different dimensions to the threat of international terrorism. In her chapter, Gabriela Echeverria argues that fighting terrorism without maintaining respect for human rights does not enhance national or international security, but undermines it. Another important casualty of the ‘war on terrorism’ is the judiciary. Governments in a number of countries have used the ‘war’ as justification to promulgate laws that substitute the judiciary as an independent arbitrator with government-created and controlled administrative bodies. Leandro Despouy reminds us of the necessity to counter this policy, while Nicholas Cowdery explores issues surrounding victims' rights.

The war on terrorism has had a similarly profound impact on freedom of expression and Lord Lester outlines some of the recent threats to this doctrine. Recent events have also proved to exacerbate the UN’s role in conflict resolution and peace management. Ramesh Thakur discusses the growing shift away from Security Council mandates towards ad hoc actions by one or more individual states.

In his chapter on special tribunals and truth commissions, Howard Varney addresses some of the challenging questions that arise in the aftermath of a major conflict. Ramón Mullerat and Mary Robinson both reflect on the expanding reach of human rights to corporations and the increasingly binding nature of human rights norms on these companies. Justice Michael Kirby provides a moving personal account of the ongoing struggle involved in protecting the human rights of all individuals, regardless of their sexuality, and Shaheen Ali and Ayesha Shahid use their chapter to examine the pressures faced by women in the workplace in Pakistan.

Written by some of the leading commentators on human rights, Our Freedoms offers a powerful and compelling introduction to human rights law and the advances made over the past decade, providing an invaluable overview of the topic for readers from both legal and non-legal backgrounds alike.

For further information contact publications@int-bar.org