Basic documents on human rights, 4th ed.

Book abstract:

The aim of this work is to provide undergraduates, practitioners, and lawyers alike with a collection of sources on human rights in a single handbook. In the decade that has passed since the third edition of this reference tool, there has obviously been a proliferation in the number of sources relating to human rights. This had led to the deletion of some superseded texts and earlier material although the size of the handbook has still increased.

Notably, the editors have taken the opportunity of this new edition to restructure the content in an apparently more logical way. Part one now concentrates exclusively on non-treaty instruments adopted within the United Nations whilst UN-sponsored treaties are grouped together in part two. Relevant documents from the International Labour Organisation, such as Conventions regarding equal pay, rights at work and the worst forms of child labour are all presented in part three, which is followed by two sources from the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

The next four parts move away from the international arena, presenting sources on human rights through regional groupings. Europe is the first geographical area to be covered with texts from the European Union, the CSCE/OSCE and the Council of Europe grouped together respectively. This section is followed by texts from Latin America, Africa and the Arab World.

Moving away from geographical groups, the final three parts of the handbook present human rights sources on three particularly topical themes: the concept of equality; the use of the human genome and trade and development.

In a further enhancement to this latest edition a quick reference table of ratifications and sources is included at the front of the handbook providing the web addresses of such sources where available along with the number of states party to each respective Treaty as on 31 January 2002.

Ian Brownlie CBE QC is a barrister at Blackstone Chambers, London and a member of the United Nations International Law Commission.

Guy Goodwin-Gill is a colleague of Ian Brownlie at the Blackstone Chambers as well as Professor of International Refugee Law at the University of Oxford.

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