Overview

While the idea of human rights and humanitarian assistance has ancient roots-evidence can be seen in such examples as the Ten Commandments, the Bhagavad Gita, and the teachings of Confucius and Socrates-it wasn't until the 1800s that the first modern humanitarian and human rights organizations came to be. The 19th century saw the beginning of the abolitionist movement, the forming of a variety of women's suffrage organizations, the formation and consolidation of national labor unions, and the founding of the Red Cross. This was followed by the inextricably intertwined story of war, persecution, violence, and the growth of human rights and humanitarian organizations in the 20th century. Bearing witness to some of the most horrific and blatant violations of human dignity, the 20th century also beheld the first sustained global efforts to promote human rights at the international level. The second edition of the Historical Dictionary of Human Rights and Humanitarian Organizations thoroughly revises the first edition, following major new developments in the arena of human rights since its publication, including the emergence of terrorism and international responses to it; the establishment of an international criminal court; the evolution of regional human rights bodies in Africa, Europe, and Latin America; and the proliferation of new non-governmental organizations and foundations dedicated to the promotion of human rights. This is accomplished through a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, photographs, a bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries covering many of the key treaties, agreements, and definitions of human rights concepts; important humanitarian organizations, whether private, governmental, national, or international; and significant persons and events. This realistic assessment of the advances in protection of human rights and the major difficulties still facing them is an excellent tool for students, practitioners, and libraries.

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9780810855489

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Reviews

The authors are well qualified. The book is easy to read...should be of interest to students, practitioners, libraries, government officials, journalists, and those interested in human rights. Arba, March 2008 ...[an] ideal reference for college library shelves and students of human rights and international politics. Wisconsin Bookwatch, July 2007 Working from the notion that organized response to inequity and violations of human dignity started in the nineteenth century, the contributors of these several hundred cross-referenced entries explain such movements as women's suffrage, refugee relief, and poverty and hunger abatement, as well as recent developments in the arena of human rights. Entries include biographies of those prominent in humanitarian and human rights work, such as Frederick Douglass and Eleanor Roosevelt; histories of relief organizations and agencies, including the evolution of regional human rights bodies in Africa, Europe, and Latin America; descriptions of key treaties and agreements; and definitions of human rights concepts. Also included are a chronology of movements from the 1800s on, numerous photographs, and a bibliography. Reference and Research Book News, August 2007

The authors are well qualified. The book is easy to read...should be of interest to students, practitioners, libraries, government officials, journalists, and those interested in human rights. American Reference Books Annual, March 2008 ...[an] ideal reference for college library shelves and students of human rights and international politics. Wisconsin Bookwatch, July 2007 Working from the notion that organized response to inequity and violations of human dignity started in the nineteenth century, the contributors of these several hundred cross-referenced entries explain such movements as women's suffrage, refugee relief, and poverty and hunger abatement, as well as recent developments in the arena of human rights. Entries include biographies of those prominent in humanitarian and human rights work, such as Frederick Douglass and Eleanor Roosevelt; histories of relief organizations and agencies, including the evolution of regional human rights bodies in Africa, Europe, and Latin America; descriptions of key treaties and agreements; and definitions of human rights concepts. Also included are a chronology of movements from the 1800s on, numerous photographs, and a bibliography. Reference and Research Book News, August 2007

Author Information

Robert F. Gorman is Professor of Political Science at Southwest Texas State University. He served as a Council on Foreign Relations Fellow in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau for Refugee Programs from 1983-1984. Edward S. Mihalkanin is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Southwest Texas State University.

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