Austregesilo de Athayde, President of the Brazilian Academy of Letters for 34 years until his death in September 1993, is perhaps best remembered as one of the most prominent and effective South American champions of human rights. Athayde played a major role in drafting the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted in December 1948. The dialogue begins with a discussion of some of the great modern espousers of human rights, including Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. Athayde then recounts how the UN declaration came into being and describes his role in the process. Ikeda, meanwhile, explores the Buddhist ideas of mercy, freedom and equality, and discusses their potential to enrich the human rights movement. "The Dialogue" as a whole represents a provocative and thoughtful introduction to the compassionate thought of two leading proponents of social justice.


Contents:
1. Towards the Century of the Renaissance of Human Rights
2. Continuing the Fervent Spirit of Humanism
3. Carrying the Banner of Humanism
4. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: An Eternal Guiding Light for All Peoples
5. Towards a Spiritually United World: Tracing Human Rights Thought
6. Expanding the Network of Humanism Around the Globe
7. Treasuring the Dignity of Each Individual
8. Path to the New Century of Human Rights
9. Towards the New Millennium
10. Paternal Images