Human rights as a basis for reevaluating and reconstructing the law

Human Rights as a Basis for Reevaluating and Reconstructing the Law

Human rights were reaffirmed and internationalised after the world conflicts which marked the 20th century and provide both the foundation of democracy and a bulwark against its excesses.

The universal affirmation of these rights in the 1948 Universal Declaration and their subsequent embodiment in national constitutions marks the beginning of a spectacular evolution rendering them the main mode of expression for social and political demands and a common denominator in legal systems in contemporary democracies. In this way, human rights act as a bridge between culture, politics and law and a hinge between légal systems.

Their spectacular impact on ail areas of the law has provoked contrasting reactions : some denounce it as risking the disintegration of the law ; others rather insist upon its reconstructive potential. Yet in every instance, human rights are doubtless one of the main features of legal postmodernity. The 4th ACCA Conférence which took place in Louvain-la-Neuve in May 2015 aimed to contribute to the debate on human rights as a potential basis for reevaluation and/or reconstruction of the law.

During the morning session, several speakers (academics or/and practitioners specialising in human rights) offered general presentations on this topic. In the afternoon session, participants had the opportunity to take part in workshops dedicated to specific topics : I. Human Rights and relationships between legal systems ; II. Human Rights and procedural law ; III. Human Rights and values ; IV. Human Rights and Information Society ; V. Human Rights and Investment ; VI. Human Rights and Public Policy.