Book Review: The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: cases, materials and commentary
| DOI | 10.1177/092405190101900220 |
| Published date | 01 June 2001 |
| Date | 01 June 2001 |
| Subject Matter | New Books |
Documentation
Human rights in the treaty relations
of
the European Community: real virtues or virtual
reality? / Mielle Bulterman. -Antwerpen: Intersentia, 2001. - xv, 335 p. - (School
of
Human
Rights Research
Series;
no. 7)
ISBN: 90-5095-164-3
Since the 1990s, a 'human rights clause' has been included in all economic and cooperation
agreements between the European Community and third countries. On the one hand, this
clause aims to confirm that human rights are a topic
of
common interest, part
of
the political
dialogue between the contracting parties. Thus it provides a basis for the implementation
of
common programmes. On the other hand, it aims to provide aclear legal basis for restrictive
measures -including suspension
of
the agreement as ultimum remedium - in response to
human rights violations or interruptions
of
the democratic process in one
of
the contracting
parties. Both aspects
of
the human rights clause are closely linked and equally important:
they are the different sides
of
one and the same coin. This study focuses on the legal aspects
of
the use
of
the human rights clause as a basis for restrictive measures in case
of
human
rights violations by a contracting party. In practice this function
of
the human rights clause
is the most sensitive; from a legal perspective it is the most controversial. In order to
establish the legal framework for the practical implementation
of
the human rights, different
fields
of
law are explored: European Union law, public international law and international
human rights law.
The influence
of
domesticNGOs on Dutch human rights policy: case studies on South Africa,
Namibia, Indonesia
and
East Timor /Esther M. van den Berg. - Antwerpen: Intersentia,
2001. - xviii, 435 p. (School
of
Human Rights Research Series: no. 8)
ISBN: 90-5095-159-7
Since the 1950s,the Netherlands has seen a steady growth
of
non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) devoted to the cause
of
human rights. In the ensuing decades they proliferated and
expanded their leverage. At the same time, human rights attained a more secure position on
the foreign policy agenda
of
the Dutch government. Against this background the question
arises, to what extent foreign policy-making in the field
of
human rights is determined by the
activities
of
NGOs. This PhD thesis focuses on the efforts
of
domestic NGOs to have an
impact on Dutch human rights policy towards South Africa, Namibia, Indonesia and East
Timor from the late 1970s until the early 1990s. It appraises whether NGOs have been able
to influence Dutch human rights policy towards these countries. Furthermore, it clarifies
which factors contributed to and detracted from the influence
of
these groups. The
characteristics
ofNGOs
are taken into consideration, along with the strategies applied and
the interaction between NGOs, as well as factors regarding the political environment.
Conclusions about NGO-influence and contributive and detracting factors are reached on the
basis
of
five case studies.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: cases. materials
and
commentary
/ Sarah Joseph, Jenny Schultz and Melissa
Castano
- Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. -
xxxiv, 745 p.
ISBN: 0-19-826774-6
This book analyses thejurisprudence
of
the Human Rights Committee, the monitoring body
established under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR). The
substantive articles
of
the CCPR are analysed in separate chapters, incorporating excerpts
from decisions under the First Optional Protocol, as well as General Comments and
Concluding Comments on States parties. Furthermore, decisions under other UN treaties,
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