We are greatly honoured to present the latest edition of the European Yearbook on Human Rights, a compilation of cutting-edge scholarship and comprehensive analyses addressing some of the most pressing human rights issues of our time. As editors, we are privileged to curate a collection that reflects the evolving landscape of human rights within Europe and beyond, offering critical insights into and fostering a deeper understanding of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in the field.
This edition covers a wide range of topics, each addressing significant and contemporary human rights concerns. Contributions cover, inter alia, the intersection of climate change and human rights and exploring legal frameworks and policy and juridical responses aimed at safeguarding environmental justice; the implications of ai on privacy, surveillance and autonomy, emphasising the need for robust regulatory mechanisms to protect individuals’ rights in the digital age; the recognition of same-sex parental and reproductive rights, cornerstones of gender equality examined through the lens of recent legislative changes and societal debates on non-discrimination; the relationship between business and human rights, exploring the accountability mechanisms for corporate actions and the pursuit of sustainable and ethical business practices; the rights of refugees and protection seekers and the urgent need for human-rights based approaches to new challenges and protection in the field of asylum and migration; the role of non-state entities in the protection of human rights and the potential of ngos to intervene in cases brought to human rights courts, to select just a few.
While the European Yearbook on Human Rights 2024 remains a critical resource for tracking and analysing human rights developments in Europe and beyond, there have been considerable changes on our side. This edition marks the first time the Yearbook is being published by Brill, following a transition from our previous publisher, Intersentia. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Intersentia for their unwavering support and collaboration over the years. As we embark on this new chapter with Brill, we look forward to a fruitful partnership and continued excellence in bringing crucial human rights issues to the forefront.
As we navigate an increasingly complex world, this edition of the European Yearbook on Human Rights serves as a vital resource for scholars, practitioners,
Lisa Heschl, Philip Czech, Karin Lukas, Manfred Nowak and Gerd Oberleitner