A Cosmopolitan Human Rights Regime

Abstract

The idea of a cosmopolitan human rights regime enables human beings to build a community of states that understands the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide as a common and shared responsibility. Such a community is based on the conviction that all human beings are members of a community of fate and they share common human values that transcend the limits of nation-states. These values cannot be limited by any political power. In this sense, a cosmopolitan human rights regime provides standards and sets of values that no state can deliberately ignore. Thus, from the perspective of a cosmopolitan human rights regime, we, as human beings, are part of a global community of nations, rather than part of a mere system of states. In such a community, human rights protect individuals as persons and not as citizens of particular states. Given the interdependence that characterizes the global community of nations, addressing some global issues such as terrorism and extremism, so as to promote international order and respect for human rights, requires a combined effort and shared responsibility.