Parliamentarians have a deep connection to people’s concerns. At a time when our societies are increasingly divided, parliaments can promote the essential values of respect, dialogue and compromise. There can be no place for discriminatory and xenophobic rhetoric, which scars societies and pushes communities to grow further apart. Parliaments that truly represent the full diversity of their society, adopt effective legislation, and hold their governments to account can powerfully shape a positive and inclusive future for their countries.
The Human Rights Handbook for Parliamentarians is based on the conviction that parliaments and their members can play a key role in delivering concretely on human rights. It is a joint initiative of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. With brief presentations of the international human rights legal framework and international mechanisms that oversee its implementation at the national level, the Handbook looks at how parliaments can contribute to greater human rights protection.
Click here to read the full report: Human Rights Handbook for Parliamentarians