Synopses & Reviews
Koen De Feyter, who has chaired Amnesty International's Working Group on economic, social and cultural rights, shows the many ways in which rampant market economics in today's world leads to violations of human rights. He questions how far the present-day international human rights system really provides effective protection against the adverse effects of globalization. This accessible and thought-provoking book shows both human rights activists and participants in the anti-globalization movement that there is a large, but hitherto untapped, overlap in their agendas, and real potential for a strategic alliance between them in joint campaigns around issues they share.
About the Author
Koen de Feyter is Senior Lecturer in International Law at the Institute of Development Policy and Management at the University of Antwerp and the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Maastricht.
Table of Contents
Human Rights
Social Justice in the Age of the Market
Introduction
1 Essentials
Dimensions of globalisation
States, markets etc.
States and market forces
States and international organisations
States and other States
Increasing the relevance of human rights
Adjust State obligations
Extend human rights obligations to other actors
Recognise the primacy of human rights
Establish credible accountability mechanisms
Focus on those marginalized by State and market
Think of rights in terms of social mobilisation
Pluralize human rights
Extend freedom of movement across borders
The market friendly approach to human rights
2 Obstacles
Lack of compliance
The international level
The regional level
The domestic level
Selective use and interpretation
Tied by treaty
State oriented
Bound by borders
Customary law
Limited by law
3 After 9/11
The direct impact on human rights of the 11 September attacks and their aftermath
Human rights and democracy as a justification for the war against Iraq
Postponing global social justice?
4 Geneva
The contribution of the UN human rights system
Treaty bodies
Charter based bodies
UN High Commissioner for human rights
Three initiatives of interest
The right to development
Addressing the international financial institutions
Norms on the responsibilities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises
Does Geneva matter?
The insider's view
Taking up human rights struggles: the Landless workers movement of Brazil
5 Avenues of hope
Peoples' tribunals
Introducing the Social and Economic Rights Action Centre, Nigeria
Lagos slum dwellers, Doha residents and the World Bank Inspection Panel
Ogoni and Awas Tingni
Wiwa v. Shell
6 The Added value of human rights
Intellectual property and pharmaceuticals
Microcredit
Privatisation and GATS
Agrarian reform
Conclusion
References
Index