This book offers the first scholarly analysis of the United Nations work in the field of human rights education (HRE) and examines why HRE is so important. Paula Gerber argues that international law can learn from the medical profession, which has long recognised that prevention is better than cure. There is an urgent need for HRE to be recognised as one of the best ways of preventing future human rights abuses; it is, in essence, a prophylactic for human rights violations. The book explores the provenance of human rights education in international law before critiquing the UNs work in this area across numerous different organs, including treaty committees, the Human Rights Council, General Assembly and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The author identifies a number of deficiencies in the UNs HRE activities, and makes recommendations for how the UN can more effectively promote HRE and increase states compliance with their international HRE obligations. This book provides a unique and timely insight into the workings of the UN in this vital aspect of international human rights law. Understanding Human Rights will strongly appeal to UN Bureaucrats, civil servants, human rights academics, human rights institutions and NGOs.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Formatted Contents Note
1. Prevention is better than cure 2. Provenance of human rights education in the UN 3. Human rights education and the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 4. Human rights education and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child 5. Human rights education and the UN Human Rights Council 6. Human rights education and the UN Economic and Social Council 7. Human rights education and the UN General Assembly 8. Human rights education and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 9. Recommendations for the improved promotion of human rights education by the UN.