Our inalienable human rights were enshrined over 50 years ago in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, what does that mean to someone who is tortured, denied education or work, or unable to find asylum?

This No-Nonsense Guide looks at the theories of rights and universalism. It explores the difficult task of protecting human rights in times of war, the advances in international laws that have led to some rights abusers facing justice, and the conflicts that can occur when rights collide with culture. While progress is being made in some areas, millions continue to suffer. As the war on terror is drags on, the question begs to be asked: Are we willing to sacrifice hard-fought rights for so-called security?

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OLIVIA BALL holds qualifications in community development and development studies, and an MA in Human Rights from the University of London. She is now an Adjunct Lecturer at Curtin University’s Centre for Human Rights Education. Find her online at blog.rightsbase.org

PAUL GREADY is a Senior Lecturer in Human Rights at the Centre for International Human Rights (CIHR), Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. He has published widely on human rights, transitional justice, civil society and social movements, and rights and development.

“I commend to you The No-Nonsense Guide to Human Rights as a call to question, to think, to act, and to contribute.”

Reverend Desmond M Tutu, Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town