The world is in the throes of a fundamental geopolitical realignment combined with radical changes in approaches to governance. The rule of law and democracy are threatened on many fronts and the international human rights regime is struggling to respond meaningfully. While some scholars have long argued that it is simply not fit for purpose, defenders of the system are generally content to double down in the hope that they can do things better in the future. But not only is the status quo under attack, it is deeply flawed. A fundamental rethinking of the system is urgently required and this lecture identifies some of the key elements of a revitalised and thoroughly reformed approach.
Author: Philip Alston is a Professor at New York University Law School. His most recent books are International Human Rights (free online download) and The Complexity of Human Rights. He has been UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights (2014-2020), UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions (2004-2010), Chairperson, UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Member of the Security Council Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic (2014-15), legal adviser to UNICEF in drafting the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1986-1990), Independent Expert on reform of the UN human rights treaty body system (1989-97), and Special Advisor to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Millennium Development Goals (2004-07).