Bookreview: A Modern Classic of Human Rights Education

by Jana Eschweiler

Human Rights. Questions and Answers, Leah Levin, Illustrated by Plantu, Unesco Publishing, 1996

What are human rights? Where does the idea come from? Where and when did it all start? These are the basic questions this short and practical paperback deals with. On 147 pages the author manages to bring together the crucial facts and necessary background information on human rights.

The book consists of two parts: The first one, "International human rights law: questions and answers", responds to 87 questions on the topic, starting with the definition of human rights, their development and history, including important documents and conventions. It describes existing convenants, how they work, whom they address and which organizations exist to implement them.

Furthermore it replies to questions concerning genocide, racial and gender discrimination, as well as the rights of children, minorities, indigenous people, in armed conflicts including the situation of refugees. Furthermore the role of IGOs an NGOs is described as well as that of human rights education.
In the second part of the book, "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: what each article means", the articles are listed and explained, including background information and examples.

Notes in the back of the book give more detailed information about individual states and their position, memberships and parties involved in treaties, short case studies and include a bibliography for further reading.

This book was first published in 1981 and then reprinted three more times. It has been translated in sixteen languages. The current edition from 1996 is substantially revised, amended and updated. Unfortunately there is no edition more up to date in print.

Human Rights: Questions and Answers is of great interest for people who are looking for an introduction in the field of human rights, as well as for professionals who would like to recapitulate the substantial of what they deal with every day. It is also an ideal book to introduce students or participants in a workshop or seminar to the meaning of human rights in our day to day life.

Index: Podium

NGOs' critical role in advancing human rights in transition societies
by Albrecht Schnabel and Sale Horowitz

Working Group 'Human Rights Education' - Impressios of a Participant
by Walter Fisher

Education for Democracy Foundation
by Krzysztof Stanowski

Focus on Schools and Communities
Interview by Maciej Kozyra with Krzysztof Kacuga

A modern classic on Human Rights Education
Bookreview by Jana Eschweiler

Law-related and democracy education for countries in transition
by David McQuoid-Mason