Catalysts for Change: How the U.N.'s Independent Experts Promote Human Rights

(Paperback)

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Catalysts for Change examines the strengths and weaknesses of one of the United Nations' most important human rights mechanismsthe collection of independent experts known as special proceduresas they negotiate the rocky terrain where rights meet reality. These independent experts serve as the eyes and ears of the UN human rights system. Despite their prolific work as experts and advocates, however, there has been no empirical study of their impact at the national leveluntil now. This book provides concrete evidence of why the system works and ways it can be improved.

Reviews

"Ted Piccone has made an important contribution to our understanding of how the UnitedNations' human rights fact-finding bodies work and how important they are to the globaleffort to prevent atrocities and systematic human rights abuses." President Jimmy Carter

"The United Nations, and its independent human rights experts, have an important role toplay in concluding conflicts and protecting human rights. This book greatly expands ourunderstanding of how these mechanisms work. Piccone's critical insights can help the UNimprove its promotion of human rights." Cherif Bassiouni, Distinguished Research Professor of Law Emeritus, DePaul University College of Law

"Ted Piccone makes an important contribution to assessing the impact of the UN'sindependent experts because he asks whether they make a difference on the ground, where the battles for human rights are ultimately won or lost. This book is an essential tool in the task of perfecting the UN's mechanisms to promote human rights for all." Juan Mendez, UN Special Rapporteur on torture

Author Bio

Ted Piccone, a senior fellow and deputy director for Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, brings to this groundbreaking study over two decades of experience as a human rights lawyer, researcher, and senior adviser at the National Security Council, the State Department, and the Pentagon. He is a coeditor of Shifting the Balance: Obama and the Americas and The Obama Administration and the Americas: Agenda for Change, both published by Brookings.