How do the foundational ideas of human rights translate into enforceable laws and real-world protections? How are global standards applied, challenged, and debated in national contexts like India? And what role do human rights play in confronting the most urgent issues of our era, from climate change and pandemics to conflict and inequality?
This book offers a comprehensive journey, starting with the very essence of human rights - their genesis, history, and core definitions. It then guides you through the vital international architecture, exploring the UN's role and the foundational treaties that shape global human rights discourse and action.
Crucially, the book grounds these concepts by providing an in-depth analysis of human rights in India, examining the constitutional safeguards, the institutional landscape, the patterns of violations, and the ongoing debates that define the struggle for rights in the nation.
Finally, it expands to address critical contemporary global realities, exploring the human rights dimensions of discrimination, conflict, migration, environmental challenges, and socio-economic vulnerabilities.
Understanding Human Rights: Concepts to Contemporary Realities is designed to equip readers with the knowledge needed to connect theory to practice, navigate complex legal and institutional frameworks, and critically analyze the human rights challenges shaping our world today. An essential text for students and practitioners alike.