عالمي تجديد حقوق الإنسان في عالم منقسم

The 2025 Massey Lectures delivered by human rights activist and former Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada, Alex Neff. The universality of rights is the fundamental promise of the human rights system that emerged from the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust: these rights include everyone, everywhere, and at all times, without exception. But the bitter truth is that the word “global” also indicates our abject failure to fulfill this promise. Human rights are often implemented selectively, withdrawn at the whims of political leaders, or ignored altogether. This denied promise is clearly evident in humanity's darkest moments, not only in violent conflicts, but also in the economic, political and social structures of our fractured world. This is not the best international moment. At a time when the world faces enormous challenges, including the climate crisis, mass atrocities, and rising hatred, the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is deeply contested and at risk, even as people demand and uphold their rights more than ever. Weaving together law, history, and stories from decades on the front lines of the struggle for human rights, Alex Neff examines where we have gone wrong, how we have progressed, and what we can do to realize the promise that human rights are inherent, inalienable, and applicable to all people.