ABSTRACT
Since 1945, states have made many commitments to respect and promote human rights. They have done so individually through ratification of human rights treaties and collectively through committing to international cooperation in this field. This chapter explores whether these commitments by states represent global legal obligations for human rights realisation. Through analysis of the definition of global obligations and assessment of the legal sources that may serve as foundations for such obligations, the chapter argues that they exist in legally binding form. While states do not necessarily comply with such global human rights obligations in their international cooperation, it is argued that non-compliance does not readily mean that legal obligations do not exist. The chapter subsequently discusses the content of global obligations, including the requirements of international assistance and cooperation. The chapter concludes by addressing the problem of apportioning responsibility for implementing the content of those obligations among states.
