Suchergebnisse

Torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners was the iconic human rights issue of the 1970s. Scholars credit Amnesty International and other non-governmental organizations for the growing public outcry and for the international diplomacy that led to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984). Little is known about the dynamics between civil society and governments in this process. This article examines Sweden's anti-torture efforts and its entanglement with Amnesty International, its Scandinavian neighbors, and the Netherlands. With varying levels of commitment, these governments issued inter-state complaints against Greece at the Council of Europe in 1967, drafted and secured the adoption of a UN declaration against torture in 1975, and initiated the decision to make a convention in 1977. On several occasions, Sweden took charge, reflecting its new ambitions in human rights as part of its emerging 'active foreign policy'. Tracking specific initiatives, the article brings into focus an often-forgotten group of states, uncovers the dynamics between these and NGOs anti-torture efforts, and reveals the central roles of the legal entrepreneurs who designed and timed initiatives from within their government's foreign ministries.

The various reports on cultural rights by UN Special Rapporteur Faridah Shaheed have provided a new universal standard for topics ranging from cultural diversity, cultural heritage, the right to artistic freedom and the effects of today's intellectual property regimes. This book's team of international contributors reflects upon the many aspects of cultural rights discussed in Faridah Shaheed's reports and discusses how cultural rights support cultural diversity, foster intercultural dialogue and contribute to inclusive social, economic and political development. Drawing from a range of disciplines, the contributing authors explore the meaning and position of cultural rights and the implications these may have for international relations, the international legal order and cross-cultural understanding, while also offering recommendations for the future. Key topics discussed include the link between culture and science, gender and human rights, rights to artistic freedom, the importance of historical narratives and the impact of advertising and marketing on the enjoyment of cultural rights. This worthwhile contribution to the current cultural rights debate will be of interest to academics and students teaching and studying in the fields of culture, heritage and human rights as well as policymakers who are working within cultural rights related issues.--