The SAGE Handbook of Human Rights will comprise a two volume set consisting of more than 50 original chapters that clarify and analyze human rights issues of both contemporary and future importance. The Handbook will take an inter-disciplinary approach, combining work in such traditional fields as law, political science and philosophy with such non-traditional subjects as climate change, demography, economics, geography, urban studies, mass communication, and business and marketing. In addition, one of the aspects of mainstreaming is the manner in which human rights has come to play a prominent role in popular culture, and there will be a section on human rights in art, film, music and literature.

Not only will the Handbook provide a state of the art analysis of the discipline that addresses the history and development of human rights standards and its movements, mechanisms and institutions, but it will seek to go beyond this and produce a book that will help lead to prospective thinking.

Human Rights Defenders and Activism

Human rights defenders and activism
AlisonBrysk

Introduction

Human rights defenders are the highest embodiment of global citizenship, mobilizing for the lives, freedoms and dignity of strangers. Coalitions of local and global activists pressure governments ‘from above and below’, and put new issues on the agenda – from forced disappearance to female genital mutilation. Human rights campaigns provide information, images, and explanations that promote identification with victims, the formation of solidarity networks, and leverage points, especially international connections. But human rights defenders are often the first victims of the abusers they seek to contain.

Human rights defenders may be drawn from all walks of life, including victims, advocates, humanitarians and promoters of civil society and democratic principles. Thus, lawyers, teachers, clergy, judges, politicians, trade unionists, ...

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