International Human Rights Law and Discrimination Protections: A Comparison of Regional and National Responses

Non-discrimination is a fundamental principle of international human rights law. This volume discusses the international legal framework on this principle and comparatively elaborates the definition of discrimination as well as the grounds of discrimination in the various general and specialised international human rights treaties, including the International Labour Organisation conventions. The element of special measures as an integral aspect of this principle is also raised. A comparative discussion on the incorporation of international standards on the principle of non-discrimination established in the international treaties in regional as well as national human rights frameworks is also set forth to provide practical illustrations of the application of these standards in more specific and localised perspectives. Selected regional frameworks discussed are the African, American and European human rights regional frameworks and the national frameworks are South Africa and Brazil.