"...the promise of human rights remains unfulfilled around the world. Daily reports of violent abuse, injustice, and the denial of basic subsistence rights leave no room for doubt that we live in a world of human rights violations... For [rights] to really take hold, they will have to be understood and fully internalized. This means continuing to debate and develop the principles of human rights so that they meet people's needs and expectations. For human rights to have a greater impact, they have to appeal to people's imaginations and become properly part of their vocabulary."

A pretty good back. Not super easy to read, both because it's dry and also because I'm incredibly busy right now. But I chugged through and learned quite a bit about a subject I'm passionate about, which I'm sure is the mission of the "Very Short Introduction" books. Would highly recommend looking them up and finding some on subjects you like. ( )

This is an accessible route to seeing how the architecture of international law and the activities of non-governmental organisations and campaigning groups helps to define a common approach to crimes against humanity and violations of universal human rights. As the legitimacy of all international law is inherently debatable the book does something to generate "a culture of human rights where the concept of respect for human dignity is internalised."