1. Introduction -- 2. Leadership in the quest for protection -- 3. Breakthroughs in universal protection at the UN : country investigations, thematic investigations, protection of human rights defenders : initiative for a high commissioner -- 4. Breakthrough in protection of the vulnerable : indigenous peoples -- 5. Voice for the victims -- 6. The push for national protection -- 7. The push for regional protection -- 8. Human rights good offices and diplomacy -- 9. Partnership for protection -- 10. Tackling the root causes as well as the symptoms of violations -- 11. A world information campaign for the protection of human rights -- 12. Overall conclusion -- 13. Afterword -- Annex A. Van Boven's vision statement, 1977 : problems and strategies in the area of human right -- Annex B. Van Boven breaks the ban on NGOs raising gross violations before the Commission on Human Rights -- Annex C. Effective action against mass and flagrant violations of human rights -- Annex D. Good offices role of the Secretary-General in the field of human rights -- Annex E. Draft resolution on the establishment of the post of UN High Commission for Human Rights (1977) -- Annex F. Division of human rights draft resolution, 1980, on enforced and involuntary disappearances leading to the establishment of the First Global Investigative Group, marking the advent of universal protection -- Annex G. Division of human rights draft resolution, 1980, on the protection of human rights defenders, leading to the adoption of a declaration and establishment of a global protective mechanism -- Annex H. Division of human rights draft resolution, 1981, on the establishment of the working group on indigenous populations, a global protective mechanism -- Annex I. Division of human rights draft resolution, 1982, on arbitrary and summary executions leading to the establishment of a global protective mechanism -- Annex J. Division of human rights draft resolution, 1980, on the development of public information activities in the field of human rights (leading to a world campaign) -- Annex K. Division of human rights draft declaration on the right to development, 1979
Summary:
This biography tells the story of Theo van Boven's dynamic and courageous leadership to develop UN protection. Van Boven has been a life-long scholar and practitioner of human rights. He served in the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented The Netherlands in the UN Commission on Human Rights, served as an expert in its Sub-Commission on Human Rights, and also on the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. He was the Director of the UN Human Rights secretariat from 1977 to 1982, and later served as Registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda, and as UN Special Rapporteur against Torture. As Director of the UN Human Rights secretariat, Professor van Boven built up the protection capacity of the United Nations piece by piece and thereby transformed the UN's role. He initiated every protection mechanism in use at the United Nations today. He was thus the father of the contemporary system of United Nations protection. This book is a priceless study of leadership and strategy. If one is to be able to deepen the protection capacity of the UN in the future, it is crucial to understand how the foundations were laid. This book, based on the personal papers of Professor van Boven and of the author, who was his Special Assistant, tells the story of his remarkable leadership of the UN Human Rights secretariat.--Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.