Although the United Nations remains heavily criticised for its complexity and bias towards the ‘big 5’ nations, it’s noble origins and ideals – embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – emphasises the need for a more democratic, more powerful and ultimately more representative UN system which can act as a democratic conduit for international cooperation and the securing of basic human needs.
The film "Battle
in Seattle" ends
with the admonition that "the battle continues" - and the struggle in the
coming years will be to compel those in power to transform
campaign-trail rhetoric into a real rejection of corporate
globalization, writes Mark Engler.
Sixty years after the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, and in a world gripped by conflicts erupting on almost every continent, what hope
is there for extending respect, freedom and rights to everyone? Perhaps
it's time to rethink the politics of human rights for the 21st century, says Nick Fraser.
The post-war global institutions have largely worked well. But
rising countries and growing threats are challenging their pre-eminence, writes The Economist.