The year 1998 signals a double anniversary - the adoption of the Freed
om of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention a
nd the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 50 years ago. While the h
igh hopes of the time have not all been realized, these instruments ha
ve contributed to the substantial progress achieved in human rights. T
he Convention in particular is a continuing means of making progress a
nd opposing backsliding, thanks to ILO supervision of its application.
How, to what effect, and what next, are the subjects of the articles
in this special issue on labour rights and human rights.