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Global Human Rights

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The Palgrave International Handbook of Education for Citizenship and Social Justice

Abstract

This chapter provides a concise overview of the rise of universal human rights as a critical aspect of international politics and governance. Drawing from this contemporary history an outline of the relationship between the political and pedagogical in historical context, the chapter critically analyzes some of the complexities in theory and implementation of a global human rights agenda through three lenses: its historical and philosophical antecedents; its political and legal implications; and the curriculum and pedagogical ramifications of global human rights. A conclusion outlines some parameters for future research in strengthening provision for human rights, and human rights education for citizenship and social justice.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Liam Gearon

Authors
  1. Liam Gearon
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, United Kingdom

    Andrew Peterson

  2. Sch of Edu, Mawson Lakes Campus, University of South Australia, Magill, South Australia, Australia

    Robert Hattam

  3. Program of Educational Studies, Open University of Cyprus, Latsia, Cyprus

    Michalinos Zembylas

  4. Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    James Arthur

Appendix

Appendix

UN human rights special rapporteurs and the equivalent targeting of specific themes include:

  • Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent; Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism

  • Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

  • Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises

  • Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights

  • Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities

  • Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances

  • Special Rapporteur on the right to education

  • Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment

  • Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions

  • Special Rapporteur on the right to food

  • Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights

  • Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

  • Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association

  • Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

  • Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context

  • Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders

  • Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers

  • Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples

  • Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons

  • Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order

  • Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity

  • Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination

  • Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants

  • Special Rapporteur on minority issues

  • Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons

  • Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights

  • Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy

  • Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

  • Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief

  • Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

  • Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences

  • Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism

  • Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

  • Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children

  • Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence

    Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights

  • Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences

  • Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes

  • Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation

  • Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice

    (UN 2015b)

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Gearon, L. (2016). Global Human Rights. In: Peterson, A., Hattam, R., Zembylas, M., Arthur, J. (eds) The Palgrave International Handbook of Education for Citizenship and Social Justice. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51507-0_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51507-0_10

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