Principles have been
considered by meetings
meetings elsewhere
in
A
the Commonwealth of Nations, notably in the Caribbean.
further meeting in the series is planned for August 1991 in
Colombo, Sri Lanka
-
a land where respect for basic human
rights, the rule
of the law and
the independence of the
judiciary have been sorely tested.
There
reservation
sketched.
will be
some
upon
the
lawyers
which developments
who will
look
with
I
have
just
Those
brought up in
the
rigidities
of
the
"incorporation" theory of international law may even reject
the Bangalore idea. But we are at a special moment in human
history. It is
akin to the moment of Runnymeade in the
history of England.
states.
The barons are represented by the nation
Often it is International law is in its infancy.
secure
law.
The
urgency derives
from
our
impotent. But there is a sense of urgency about the need to respect and to implement international human rights
the vulnerability of
planet and the new human integration achieved largely by
miracles of technology. It is important for lawyers to keep
pace with the changing world. Human rights are, of their
very nature, universal.
in human beings They inhere
as
such. Each judge has many opportunities to contribute to the
implementation of universal human rights law. But a judge of
and
the
common
law
-
using the
established
techniques
methodology of the common law
has
special,
enhanced
opportunities to do so.
IMPLEMENTING A GUARANTEED CHARTER OF RIGHTS
So far, I have dealt with the rôle of the judge who has
special weapons for defending basic rights other than
those in the traditional armoury of the common law -
no
enhanced
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