The indispensability of dignity: how the practice of Human Rights contributes to peace
Institutional Affiliation
Nova Southeastern University
Start Date
15-1-2026 10:45 AM
End Date
15-1-2026 12:15 PM
Proposal Type
Panel
Proposal Format
Virtual
Proposal Description
In the aftermath of the horrors of World War II, a conviction took hold in the international community that preserving human dignity is essential for peace and security, and that the preciousness and integrity of human life should be protected by a common understanding of human rights, given form as law. The consensus that emerged was given form as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Preamble of which affirms that ‘human rights should be protected by the rule of law’. The UDHR came to represent basic, internationally acceptable norms and standards that in time were translated into treaties and conventions designed to regulate the behavior of those who hold political authority towards their citizenry, everywhere.
This ‘rules-based consensus’ ushered in an era of multilateral cooperation between countries, based on a shared understanding of what makes us human – from the sanctity of childhood, to vulnerability when migrating for work, to the violence inherent in racism and sexism, through to the basic human need to enjoy freedom to think and believe, unfettered by intrusion from political authorities. This consensus has come under widespread assault in recent years, in the ways in which wars are fought – from the targeting of journalists, medics, food supplies, and even poets - as well as in established democracies.
This presentation introduces how the international human rights architecture functions and asks the question, Does ratification of human rights treaties contribute to peace? It answers this question by examining whether ratifying a major human rights treaty has helped grow peace in a diverse array of contexts, while also identifying obstacles to ratification in settings resistant to participating in these hard-won international mechanisms. The presentation concludes by re-envisaging dignity amid the current adversity, and the role of human rights in preserving and nourishing that value.
The indispensability of dignity: how the practice of Human Rights contributes to peace
In the aftermath of the horrors of World War II, a conviction took hold in the international community that preserving human dignity is essential for peace and security, and that the preciousness and integrity of human life should be protected by a common understanding of human rights, given form as law. The consensus that emerged was given form as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Preamble of which affirms that ‘human rights should be protected by the rule of law’. The UDHR came to represent basic, internationally acceptable norms and standards that in time were translated into treaties and conventions designed to regulate the behavior of those who hold political authority towards their citizenry, everywhere.
This ‘rules-based consensus’ ushered in an era of multilateral cooperation between countries, based on a shared understanding of what makes us human – from the sanctity of childhood, to vulnerability when migrating for work, to the violence inherent in racism and sexism, through to the basic human need to enjoy freedom to think and believe, unfettered by intrusion from political authorities. This consensus has come under widespread assault in recent years, in the ways in which wars are fought – from the targeting of journalists, medics, food supplies, and even poets - as well as in established democracies.
This presentation introduces how the international human rights architecture functions and asks the question, Does ratification of human rights treaties contribute to peace? It answers this question by examining whether ratifying a major human rights treaty has helped grow peace in a diverse array of contexts, while also identifying obstacles to ratification in settings resistant to participating in these hard-won international mechanisms. The presentation concludes by re-envisaging dignity amid the current adversity, and the role of human rights in preserving and nourishing that value.