A Brief History of Human Rights Documents By Kateri Carmola

Although the establishment of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is monumental in its protection of the fundamental rights of human beings, the notion of such rights is not necessarily new. A number of different documents throughout human history have forged a path for the Declaration. 

Such ancient texts as the Hindu Vedas, the Mesopotamian Code of Hammurabi, the Bible, and the Analects of Confucius all address individuals’ roles and rights within a functioning society. In 1215 AD, the Magna Carta put in writing the rights of England’s subjects and instituted habeas corpus, which allows citizens to appeal against unlawful imprisonment. 

Nearly 500 years after the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights of 1689 limited the powers of sovereigns, outlined the rights of freedom of speech, and established regular elections. A century later, the French Bill of Rights (1789) and the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights set forth some of the principles of self-determination, despite the fact that they marginalized women, people of color, and other social, economic, and religious minorities.

Today, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, strives to protect the human rights of all by recognizing the dignity and equality of the “inalienable rights ... of the human family.” While there is much work to be done to ensure that these rights are upheld, such progress is truly historic.

About Kateri Carmola: Currently a Visiting Research Scholar at Middlebury College, Kateri Carmola spoke about human rights issues at Harvard Law School’s 2006 Program on Human Rights. In addition, she participated in the Salzburg Seminar on International Human Rights.

Book Spotlight: Private Security Contractors and New Wars: Risk, Law, and Ethics, by Kateri Carmola

Written by political theorist and modern warfare scholar Kateri Carmola, the text Private Security Contractors and New Wars: Risk, Law, and Ethics (2010) analyzes the use of private security forces in today’s conflicts and offers insight into the future of this growing industry and its regulation. Dr. Carmola provides detailed research and investigation into the evolving makeup of modern fighting forces, the development of the private military and security industry, and those companies operating within it. Additionally, she offers an overview of the global changes that result from increased reliance on private military and security companies (PMSCs), such as changing ideas about what it means to be a “soldier”, the insurance industry's reliance on them, and how the conduct of PMSCs can influence public opinion of government.

In the book, Dr. Carmola argues that PMSCs are composed of key players in military organizations, businesses, and humanitarian groups. The extent of their employees’ and subcontractors’ legal liabilites is furthermore a gray area of the law. As a result, regulating and overseeing PMSCs becomes particularly difficult. In addition, she adds, PMSCs have received both widespread criticism and support, which complicates the task of assessing the ethics of their use. 

Look for Private Security Contractors and New Wars: Risk, Law, and Ethics on Amazon.com.

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