Includes bibliographical references and index.

Foreword -- J.A. Lasso. Foreword -- R. Clarke. Introduction. I. The Challenges of International Protection. II. The Protection Role of the United Nations Secretary-General. III. The Office of the United nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. IV. Treaty Implementation. V. Fact-Finding and Special Procedures. VI. The Protection Role of the High Commissioner. VII. The Protection Role of Human Rights Field Offices. VIII. Justice and Reconciliation. IX. Groups in Need of Protection. X. The Promotional Activities of the Office of the High Commissioner. XI. The Right to Development. XII. Assessment. Conclusion. The Future of International Protection. Bibliography. Appendix I: United Nations General Assembly Resolution 48/141: High Commissioner for the Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights. Appendix II: Mission Statement of the Office of the High Commissioner. Appendix III: Statement by the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Meeting of Chairpersons of the Treaty Bodies, Palais Wilson, 18 June 2001. Appendix IV: Address of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Eight Meeting of Special Rapporteurs/Representatives and Experts of the Commission on Human Rights, 18 June 2001. Index.

Ever since its creation, the United Nations has sought to protect as well as to promote human rights. Those who campaigned for decades for the establishment of the post of High Commissioner for Human Rights did so in the hope that the High Commissioner would spearhead the efforts of the United Nations and the international community to protect those at risk or whose rights are being violated. How has the High Commissioner contributed to international protection since the establishment of the office in 1993? This book, the first-ever written on the office since its establishment, presents the protection role of the High Commissioner. It argues that limited protection functions are carried out by the Security Council, the Secretary-General, the Commission on Human Rights and its special procedures, and the High Commissioner. However, international protection is still in its infancy and much more remains to be done to bring about a protection system that effectively anticipates and prevents gross violations, contributes to mitigation and cure, and facilitates remedies and compensation. This is a valuable pioneering work in the area of the international protection of human rights.

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