Mobilizing for Human Rights
International Law in Domestic Politics

This book demonstrates that the ratification of treaties generally leads to better human rights practices on average.

Beth A. Simmons (Author)

9780521712323, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 31 August 2009

472 pages, 30 b/w illus. 23 tables
23.4 x 15.6 x 2.4 cm, 0.68 kg

'This book marshals theoretical arguments and empirical evidence to show that, under certain conditions, a state's public law-like commitment in the form of agreeing to an international human rights treaty has a noticeable positive impact on domestic human rights outcomes.' International Affairs

This volume argues that international human rights law has made a positive contribution to the realization of human rights in much of the world. Although governments sometimes ratify human rights treaties, gambling that they will experience little pressure to comply with them, this is not typically the case. Focusing on rights stakeholders rather than the United Nations or state pressure, Beth Simmons demonstrates through a combination of statistical analyses and case studies that the ratification of treaties leads to better rights practices on average. Simmons argues that international human rights law should get more practical and rhetorical support from the international community as a supplement to broader efforts to address conflict, development, and democratization.

1. Introduction
2. Why international law? The development of the international human rights regime in the twentieth century
3. Theories of commitment
4. Theories of compliance
5. Civil rights
6. Equality for women: education, work, and reproductive rights
7. Humane treatment: the prevalence and prevention of torture
8. The protection of innocents: rights of the child
9. Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Human rights [JPVH], International relations [JPS]