Book Review: The International Law of Human Rights

Having regard to the global breadth of international human rights law, the distillation of principles into a manageable text is a significant achievement.

The International Law of Human Rights is a comprehensive first edition treatise, published in 2011. The work is a detailed, but logical resource. It is well-researched and includes appropriate but not over-bearing references throughout.

The three authors bring diverse backgrounds to the work, as lawyers, academics and commentators. Dr. Adam McBeth is a Senior Lecturer in law at Monash University, who has been engaged previously to work with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission of Victoria and the Iraqi Human Rights Ministry. The Deputy-Director of the Australian Human Rights Centre, Justine Nolan, is a Senior Lecturer in law at the University of New South Wales; has advised companies on human rights law; and worked with the United Nations. Associate Professor Simon Rice OAM is the Director of Law Reform and Social Justice at the Australian National University and is Chair of the Australian Capital Territory Law Reform Advisory Council.

The text is comprehensive in nature yet skillfully structured with headings, sub-headings and accompanying numbering and sub-numbering. The book is divided into 7 parts (1. International Bill of Human Rights; 2. The Substantive Rights; 3. International Human Rights Framework; 4. Australia; 5. Human Rights Abuses; 6. Vulnerable people; 7. Contemporary Issues) and 20 chapters. In a simplified analysis, it could be said that the first three parts are international in focus, with the latter four relating to Australia. The chapters at times, although they have been grouped into areas of relevance, are discrete and effective, individually (see, for example, chapters 5 and 9 as to the framework of the United Nations system and the role of non-government organizations, which are both in part 3).

The Foreword by The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG describes the international law of human rights as “once the Cinderella of the law”, now “suddenly becoming a star”. His Honour describes five “special features” of the book, the historical analysis, the evolving nature of the law, the “dualist” nature of contemporary international human rights law, the “snapshots” as to real life decisions and circumstances throughout the book and the assessment within the work of the future.

This text ‘traverses the field’ of international human rights law and is therefore suitable for an audience seeking to consider initially the area. The work includes a detailed contents list, a useful acronym guide and a table of cases and statutes, allowing efficient access to specific topics within.