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Human Rights and Democracy

Towards a Less Imperfect State of the World: The Gulf Between North and South

Ramesh Thakur

Ramesh Thakur gives a tour d'horizon of the challenges in seven key areas of international policy from a Southern perspective. He identifies differences in perceptions and interests towards war, nuclear weapons, the use of force, "humanitarian interventions", human rights, terrorism and climate change. Thakur offers policy options and stresses the importance of the rule of law to overcome North-South divides.

Briefing Paper 5-2008, FES Berlin, April 2008

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The Politics of Responsibility to Protect

Marc Saxer

The intricate process that led up to the appointment of a UN Special Adviser on R2P sheds a light on the political landscape surrounding the concept. Marc Saxer analyses the political environment and the strategies of the main actors in the struggle over this emerging norm. He points out some shortcomings of the concept and offers policy options to move the agenda. Saxer argues that it will be crucial to find a broad international consensus how to tackle mass atrocities in internal conflicts in order to overcome ideological debates that repeatedly block political decision making in cases where timely action is needed.

Dialogue on Globalization Briefing Paper 2-2008, FES Berlin, April 2008

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2nd part of the 6th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
December 10-14, 2007

Theodor Rathgeber, Forum Human Rights Germany

Fact Sheet N° 2, FES Geneva, February 2008

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Reconciliation and Development

Karen Brounéus

In many conflict and post-conflict countries, situations in which peace and justice appear to compete with one another are on the rise.To show how to constructively deal with tensions that can arise was the aim of the international conference in Nuremberg, on 25-27 June 2007, entitled “Building a Future on Peace and Justice”. These Occasional Papers contributed to the preparation of a workshop on Reconciliation at the conference that had been jointly organized by The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation and FES. Brounéus provides an overview of some key concerns regarding reconciliation in relation to justice, security, and politics respectively, and their policy implications. She introduces recent research on truth commissions and truth telling. Brounéus argues that if security is not provided, the process of reconciliation may risk to backlash in increased violence or in suppression of truth.

Occasional Paper 36, FES Berlin, November 2007

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Gender justice and reconciliation

Nahla Valji

Valji's Occasional Papers also contributed to the preparation Reconciliation workshop at the "Peace and Justice" conference. Valji examines how women’s experiences of conflict and transition differ to that of men because of inherent gendered power relations. The paper discusses the specific needs of women within post-conflict systems that are male-orientated, and examines the assumptions of the transitional justice field from a gendered perspective.

Occasional Paper 35 | 2007, FES Berlin, November 2007

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Fine tuning the institution building
The 6th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, 10-28 September

Felix Kirchmeier

Fact Sheet N° 7, FES Geneva, October 2007

Building the new Human Rights Council: outcome and analysis of the institution-building year

Meghna Abraham

FES Occasional Paper N°33, FES Geneva, August 2007

The U.N. Counter-Terrorism Committee: An Institutional Analysis

C.S.R. Murty

Briefing Paper 15-2007, FES New York, September 2007

Fifth Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Gisela von Keyserlingk

Fact Sheet N° 6, FES Geneva, June 2007

Growth with responsibility in a globalized world : findings of the Shadow G-8

Joseph E. Stiglitz ; Stephany Griffith-Jones

Occasional paper 31 - FES New York, May 2007

A Priority Agenda for the Next UN Secretary-General

Thomas G. Weiss and Peter J. Hoffman

FES Occasional Paper N°28, FES New York, January 2007

Second Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Felix Kirchmeier

FES Fact Sheet N°11, FES Geneva, October 2006

The Right to Development - where do we stand?

Felix Kirchmeier

FES Occasional Paper N° 23, July 2006

The Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture

Felix Kirchmeier

FES Fact Sheet, FES Geneva, N°8, August 2006

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A new chapter for human rights

A handbook on issues of transition from the Commission on Human Rights to the Human Rights Council

Special Session of the Human Rights Council

Felix Kirchmeier

FES Fact Sheet, FES Geneva, July 2006

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United Nations Democracy Fund

Volker Lehmann

FES Fact Sheet, FES New York, May 2006

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Global Democracy in the Nexus of Governments, Parliaments, Parties and Civil Society

Christoph Zöpel

FES Occasional Paper, N° 21, FES New York, October 2005

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A question of political will :
the Helsinki process report on globalisation and democracy

Jens Martens

FES Briefing Paper, FES Berlin, August 2005

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A Question of Political Will - The Helsinki Process Report on Globalisation and Democracy

Jens Martens

FES Briefing Paper, FES Berlin, August 2005

The UN Norms on Corporate Human Rights Responsibilities and their Relationship with Other Regimes of Corporate Accountability

Nils Rosemann

FES-Genf, N° 20 / May 2005,

ISBN 3-89892-385-1, FESOccPapers20

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Die Globalisierungskritiker auf der Suche nach einer Perspektive Ein Bericht vom 5. Weltsozialforum in Porto Alegre

Jürgen Stetten / Jochen Steinhilber

FES Briefing Paper Februar 2005

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Soul-Searching in Porto Alegre. A Report from the 5th World Social Forum

Jürgen Stetten / Jochen Steinhilber

FES Briefing Paper February 2005

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Los "globalicríticos" en búsqueda de una nueva perspectiva - Un informe sobre el 5to Foro Social Mundial en Porto Alegre

Jürgen Stetten/Jochen Steinhilber

FES-Berlin, Feb-05

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Un foro de controversias: criticas a la globalizacion en Mumbai

Jürgen Stetten und Jochen Steinhilber

FES Briefing Papers Enero 2004

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A Forum of Contradictions

Jürgen Stetten und Jochen Steinhilber

FES Briefing Papers January 2004

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Civil-Society Actors: A Democratic Corrective For International Organizations?

Franz Nuschler, March 2003