Introduction to International Human Rights Law

This book offers a compact but general introduction to international human rights law. It discusses the theoretical, historical and legal foundations of international human rights law, providing an encompassing analysis of the substantive content of the most important human rights and of the role of States and non-State actors in ensuring their respect. It also carries out a specific analysis of the UN system and the ECHR and other regional systems – all this while constantly situating the discussion on international human rights law within the broader framework of public international law.

While particularly suitable for undergraduate students in law, this book is also aimed at students of political science and other social sciences, as well as academics and practitioners.

Pietro Pustorino is Full Professor of International Law at the Department of Law of Luiss University (Rome, Italy) and Director of the Luiss Center for International and Strategic Studies.

Chapter 1. Historic Evolution of Human Rights Law: From National to International Protection.- Chapter 2. Theoretical Foundations and General Characteristics of Human Rights.- Chapter 3. International Legal Sources on Human Rights: The Universal Level.- Chapter 4. International Legal Sources on Human Rights: The Regional Level.- Chapter 5. United Nations and Human Rights.- Chapter 6. Individual and Collective Human Rights: Right to Life.- Chapter 7. Other Grave Breaches of Human Rights: Prohibition of Genocide, Prohibition of Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Punishment or Treatment, Prohibition of Slavery and Forced Labour and Prohibition of Racial Discrimination and Apartheid.- Chapter 8. Right to Liberty and Security, Right to a Fair Trial and Principle of No Punishment Without Law.- Chapter 9. Right to Respect for Private and Family Life, Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion, Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Assembly and Association.- Chapter 10. Refugees’ Rights, Rightto Citizenship and Other Political Rights.- Chapter 11. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.- Chapter 12. Right to Self-determination of Peoples, Right to Development and Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment.- Chapter 13. Human Rights, States and Non-State Actors.- Chapter 14. International Responsibility for Violations of Human Rights.- Table of Cases.

Pietro Pustorino is Full Professor of International Law and Director of the Center for International and Strategic Studies (Luiss University, Department of Law) in Rome, Italy.