Human rights law : selected writings of Kevin Aquilina

Abstract

Human Rights Law is one of the most evolving, consequential, and relevant laws related directly to human existence and human betterment. I have been studying and reflecting about this realm of law for more than three decades. The dismal record Malta retains in human rights protection continues to be a preoccupying feature of my thought. This is the second volume of my selected writings that the Department of Media, Communications and Technology Law at the Faculty of Laws of the University of Malta is publishing specifically to coincide with the celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 9 December 1948 and the United Nations General Assembly’s Universal Decleration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948. The first volume, The Rule of Law à la Maltaise, published last year (2017), concerned a fundamental constitutional topic. This second work follows suit on another highly important theme, namely Human Rights Law. A third monograph is envisaged to follow these two volumes, aimed at filling in a gap in a myriad of aspects in Maltese Constitutional Theory, essentially setting out the principles of Public Law. For the rule of law and human rights – fundamental and pivotal as undoubtedly they are to a vibrant democratic society – are just only two out of a multitude of Public Law principles that inspire, govern, regulate and direct a state and its organs, institutions and public officers. [Excerpt from the Preface]