In 2011, the UN Human Rights Council created the mandate of the Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order. This book represents the findings of Dr. Alfred de Zayas, the first mandate-holder (2012-2018).

Zayas proposes concrete reforms of the UN system, notably the Security Council, and advocates recognition of peace as a human right, self-determination as a conflict-prevention measure, slashing military expenditures, reversing the adverse impacts of World Bank and International Monetary Fund policies, rendering free-trade agreements compatible with human rights, abolishing tax havens and ISDS, alleviating the foreign debt crisis, criminalizing war-profiteers and pandemic vultures. Zayas denounces unilateral coercive measures, economic sanctions and financial blockades, because they demonstrably have caused hundreds of thousands of deaths.

“I hope that this book will be of great utility in the promotion and protection of human rights.” MICHELLE BACHELET, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights