Introduction: Asia and human rights 4 Part One: ?Asian Values” and their metamorphoses: the debate on the universality of human rights 7 1. The ?Asian values” discourse 7 A. The articulation and crystallisation of ?Asian values” 7 B. The ?Asian values” discourse as a strategic essentialism ? its main arguments 8 C. Various national situations 10 2. The waxing and waning of ?Asian values” 10 A. The crisis of ?Asian values” at the turn of the 21st century 10 B. Singaporean, Chinese or post-Asian values? 12 C. Is there growing recognition of the universality of human rights in Asia despite the sporadic reemergence of opposing trends? 13 Part Two: Domestic human rights protection in Asian states 15 1. Civil and political rights; economic and social rights: perspectives 15 A. The assertion and questioning of civil and political rights 15 B. Are economic and social rights given primacy of importance? 19 C. Specious distinctions and perverse effects 20 2. Promotion and protection? Implementing and guaranteeing rights 22 A. An implicit dichotomy 22 B. Have internal changes led to an improvement in the protection of rights? 23 C. Persistent impediments to the fulfilment of human rights 25 Part Three: Regional perspectives for the protection of human rights 28 1. Asia and the international system 28 A. The characteristics of the array of Asian diplomatic policies 28 B. The absence of a regional mechanism and weak human rights cooperation 29 C. Did you say progress? 29 2. ASEAN, has there been any real progress? 30 A. The long maturation of a mechanism dedicated to human rights 30 B. Advancements in policies and institutions: the ASEAN Charter, the AICHR and the Human Rights Declaration 31 C. Have there been any real advancements? 32 Part Four: The role of the international human rights protection system 34 1. How the international system influences human rights protection in Asia 34 A. The growing influence of the UN system 35 B. Obstacles and resistance 38 2. How Asian states respond to and influence the UN system 39 A. Levels of commitment vary 40 B. The behaviour of Asian states in international arenas: the case of the Human Rights Council 44 Conclusion: the prospects