Walter Kalin and Jorg Kunzli. The Law of International Human Rights Protection

Abstract

Two renowned scholars of international human rights from the University of Berne offer this excellent volume which is based on and expands the second edition of their book Universeller Menschenrechtsschutz (2008). Professor Walter Kalin was representative of the UN Secretary General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, and from 2003 to 2008 a member of the UN Human Rights Committee. Jorg Kunzli is Associate Professor of Law at the University of Berne. While a number of introductory works and handbooks on international human rights (law) have been published, it is difficult and not possible here to compare different volumes in the absence of a well-founded discussion on criteria of how to compare them. Rather I will evaluate it on its own merits. The volume covers comprehensively key issues ranging from Chapter 1 on the origins and universality of human rights to protection during migration, forced displacements, and flight (Chapter 17). Key chapters of the first part address inter alia the legal nature of human rights obligations, the scope of application of human rights, and humanitarian law. In Part II, entitled Implementation of Human Rights, basic principles, treaty bodies, �