"The conference was organized by the Internationale Vereinigung für Rechts- und Sozialphilosophie (International Association for the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy) – IVR and by a Associação Brasileira de Filosofia do Direito e de Sociologia do Direito (Brazilian Association for Philosophy of Law and Sociology of Law) – ABRAFI andtook place in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais’ Campus, from July 21 through July 27, 2015. The papers published in the Proceedings were presented during the Conference in many Working Groups and Special Workshops, which represent the significant diversity of themes and subjects discussed by the participants from all over the world. They express the high leveled research and the creative endeavor of each author, and help us to understand the broad and distinct perspectives in order to understand Law from the standpoint of the main theme of this Conference: Human Rights, Rule of Law and the Contemporary Social Challenges in Complex Societies." – Editors.

Modern societies often claim to be democracies in order to enjoy greater legitimacy. Still, to understand the concept of democracy and how to justify it, the definition of it as self-determined is not sufficient. A complex understanding has to take into account ideas of rule of law as well as human rights. Sometimes these three concepts compete with each other - particularly in societies with a pluralistic approach to what "the good life" should be, such as societies which are made up of distinct cultural backgrounds. This book presents a concept of democracy that encompasses at the same time the ideas of rule of law, human rights and self-determination. It contains the main lectures of the XXVI World Congress of Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, hosted by the Internationale Vereinigung fur Rechts- und Sozialphilosophie at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil) in July 2013.

We are often confronted with unknown events that plunge us into ignorance, unpredictability, and various hardships. In such situations, it is essential how fundamental human values and rights such as dignity, freedom, equality, and solidarity are protected. Ensuring human rights in contemporary society is a complex area described in this book from the perspective of conceptualising and defining human rights, institutional responses, and practices to protect human rights, ensuring social justice and equality in contemporary society. The book is a compilation of interdisciplinary and international experiences in researching human rights, responding to human rights violations, and ensuring the enforcement of rights at the level of the daily lives of individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

This new book examines the relationship between culture and respect for human rights. It departs from the oft-made assumption that culture is closely linked to ideas about community. Instead, it reveals culture as a quality possessed by the individual with a serious impact on her ability to enjoy the rights and freedoms as recognised in international human rights law in meaningful and effective ways. This understanding redirects attention towards a range of issues that have long been marginalised, but which warrant a central place in human rights research and on the international human rights agenda. Special attention is given to the circumstances induced by cultural differences between people and the laws by which they are expected to live. The circumstances are created by differing tools, know-how and skills (cultural equipment), diverse settlements on matters that are ultimately indifferent from the standpoint of cosmopolitan moral law (adiaphora), and conflicts having their source in conflicting doctrinesethical, religious and philosophicaladdressing deep questions about the ultimate purpose of human life (comprehensive doctrines). Each of the circumstances shifts the focus with the aim of securing effective and adequate protection of individual freedom, as societies become increasingly diversified in cultural terms and issues arise of access to laws and public institutions, exemption from legal obligations for reasons of conscience, fair resolution of conflicts having their source in differing ethical, religious and philosophical outlooks, and, excuse for breach of law in case of involuntary ignorance.

Contemporary Mexico faces a complex crisis of violence and insecurity with high levels of impunity and the lack of an effective rule of law. These weaknesses in the rule of law are multidimensional and involve elements of institutional design, the specific content of the laws, particularities of political competition and a culture of legality in a country with severe social inequalities. This book discusses necessary institutional and legal reforms to develop the rule of law in a context of democratic, social and economic transformations. The chapters are organized to address: 1) The concept of the ‘rule of law’ and its measurement; 2) The fragility of the ‘rule of law’ in Mexico; 3) Structural reforms and implementation challenges; 4) Social exclusion and the culture of legality. The book addresses decision-makers, civil servants, consultants, scholars, lecturers, and students focusing on public policy, rule of law, sociology of law, legislative studies and practice, impunity, and areas of political philosophy. • The book presents an interdisciplinary and integrated approach for understanding the rule of law in Mexico, taking into account national particularities, the regional context and global comparisons. • Chapters discuss recent institutional reforms in Mexico from a critical point of view and explore possible next steps to achieve effective implementation. • This book addresses the links between a weak rule of law and social phenomena like insecurity, violence, corruption and democratic deficits.