“Faith in United Nations Human Rights Treaties" (2026)
In 1945, the peoples of the United Nations (UN) reaffirmed their “faith in fundamental human rights” and stressed the importance of respecting “the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law”. Eighty years later, these quotes from the preamble of the UN Charter guide the book on “Faith in United Nations Human Rights Treaties” (edited by Michael Wiener, Ibrahim Salama and Britta Nicolmann). Published in 2026 by the University for Peace, British University in Egypt and Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, the book is available in open access (see also QR Code).
All core treaties and relevant declarations – in chronological order of their adoption – are commented on by international experts, including current and former treaty body members or special rapporteurs, religious leaders, faith-based actors and academics. They provide legal and religious commentaries for peer-learning and research, exploring the role of faith and faith-based actors in drafting the respective conventions and declarations.
The book also seeks to inspire faith in the crucial role of treaty bodies and support practical implementation of the existing obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law. For example, UN treaty bodies and special rapporteurs have been instrumental for getting abused children off the street, conscientious objectors out of prison, and discriminatory common law offences repealed.
Hybrid discussion and book launch
Please join the hybrid book launch on the fortieth anniversary of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, either in-person at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights or online.
Program
- Prof. Gentian Zyberi (Norwegian Centre for Human Rights), Prof. Ahmed Shaheed and Zeynep Baysar (Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex)
- Prof. Ibrahim Salama (British University in Egypt)
- Prof. Mihir Kanade (University for Peace)
- Prof. Nazila Ghanea (University of Oxford and UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief)
- Prof. Nora Sveaass (former member of UN Committee against Torture and of Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture)
- Participation of other book contributors and interactive discussion
Registration
Online participation is available upon registration. In-person seats are limited; please make sure to secure your spot.