Includes bibliographical references and index.

ch. 1. Defining human rights -- 1. The United Nations' universal declaration of human rights / United Nations -- 2. The United Nations is changing the way it addresses human rights challenges / Julie A. Mertus -- 3. International human rights law has evolved to meet new challenges / Thomas Buergenthal -- 4. Islamic reactions to Western ideas of human rights / Emile Sahliyeh --

ch. 2. Worldwide examples of human rights violations -- 1. Uzbekistan's dictator is violating human rights / Jonathan Freedland -- 2. China is committing numerous human rights violations / Amnesty International -- 3. Ethnic conflict in Sudan is causing large-scale human rights violations / Nsongurua J. Udombana -- 4. The United States is violating the human rights of suspected terrorist prisoners / Michael Ratner --

ch. 3. How can human rights be protected or improved? -- 1. Democracy promotes human rights / G. Shabbir Cheema -- 2. Democracy does not guarantee human rights / CNN.com -- 3. Globalization promotes human rights / Daniel Griswold -- 4. Suing global corporations can end their human rights abuses / Daphne Eviatar -- 5. The United Nations promotes human rights / Jerry Pubantz -- 6. The UN Human Rights Commission should not admit human rights violators to its membership / Frida Ghitis -- 7. The Internet can help improve human rights / Lloyd Axworthy --

ch. 4. Personal perspectives on human rights issues -- 1. The plight of refugees from Liberia's civil war / Caroline Moorehead -- 2. A former Chinese political prisoner discusses his detention / Luke Harding -- 3. An aid worker describes working in Sudan during the civil war / "Sleepless in Sudan" -- 4. The former high commissioner for human rights discusses key human rights concerns / Mary Robinson, interviewed by Ian Williams -- Organizations to contact.