Now in its fourth edition, this well-respected textbook blends the theory of human rights with its context, debates and practice.

The only human rights textbook truly merging law with practice in a comprehensive and enjoyable manner.

This textbook provides a thorough and systematic overview of human rights law, including the most relevant practice and case law, but also dealing with theoretical issues. It pursues an original approach, seeking to reconcile its didactic purpose with a scientific one, positing that there must be a necessary synergy between these two purposes. Furthermore, the author is convinced that international human rights law should not be studied (as is done in virtually every textbook) as a special legal regime, separate and autonomous from the overall system of international law; but as a regime that is fully integrated into the international legal order. The book’s dominant theme is the interrelationship of international human rights law and general international law. Following this approach, the author has chosen to devote comparatively little content to institutional issues (Part IV) and to instead more intensively explore the structural impact of human rights law on the entire international order (Part I); on the sources (Part II) and obligations (Part III) of general international law; and what constitutes “fundamental” human rights (Part V), without neglecting other rights (Part VI).

This major work offers a range of new cases and materials which help to explain the law of human rights in a broad context.

This handbook brings together the work of 25 leading human rights scholars from all over the world, covering a broad range of human rights topics.

This is an accessible collection of key universal and regional human rights law treaties and other related documents. It will appeal to students studying international human rights law as well as related courses for which no similar statute book exists: international humanitarian law; law and development; and international labour law.

This fully updated edition offers coverage of new topics and a more student-friendly design, while retaining the original style and features.