A UN high commissioner in defence of human rights : "no license to kill or torture" / Bertrand Ramcharan.

1. Designation as 'helmsman' and vision of the roles of the high commissioner -- 2. Articles of faith and strategies for the future -- 3. Leadership and avocacy: passion matters -- 4. Action in defence of human rights: trouble-shooting in crisis situations -- 5. Defending human rights through human rights diplomacy - 6. Restructuring the office in its tenth year -- 7. Defending human rights through strong national protection systems -- 8. Defending human rights through improved treaty implementation -- 9. Strengthening the special procedures -- 10. Protecting human rights in counter-terrorism strategies -- 11. Vindicating equality -- 12. Managerial improvements -- 13. Introducting an integrated personnel system -- 14. Relations with the staff -- 15. Relations with the human rights movement -- 16. Relations with the host country -- 17. Relations with the secretary - general -- 18. Reporting to the ECOSOC -- 19. Reporting to the general assembly -- 20. Reporting to the security council -- 21. Reporting to the commission on human rights -- 22. The challenges of international protection -- 23. Final conclusion: passion matters!

In contemporary international relations the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is a central actor, promoting human rights laws and institutions within countries, speaking out against gross violations of human rights, integrating human rights into efforts for conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, development and humanitarian affairs. The author exercised the functions of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in a turbulent period involving the conflict in Iraq, the conflict in Cote d'Ivoire, and the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. In this unique work he tells the story of the role of the High Commissioner in leadership and advocacy, crisis response, diplomatic initiatives, mainstreaming human rights, and strengthening the Office of High Commissioner. The texts of the principal reports referred to the essays contained in Part One are reproduced in Part Two, offering the reader important insights into the reasoning, the methods and the techniques used in the work of the High Commissioner. This is the first book ever written by a serving High Commissioner in the history of the institution. It is obligatory reading for all students and practitioners of human rights.