Human Rights and Social Development - Toward Democratization and Social Justice

This paper assesses progress toward the objectives of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action. It presents the relevance of human rights to the goals and strategy of the Declaration and describes the different right that now constitute the international regime, taking note of the degree of consensus and of various criticisms. The paper then analyzes the international and national norms that support democracy and social justice, with particular attention to the rights of minorities and the nature and implications of globalization.