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11 Int'l J. Hum. Rts. 1 (2007)

handle is hein.journals/ininllh11 and id is 1 raw text is: The International Journal of Human Rights 9 Rout ed ge Vol. 11, Nos. 1-2, 1, March 2007 Foreword Human nature entails fear of differences, and it is only natural that the majority of us will seek to maintain the status quo such that our perceived superiority (whatever it be) over others who are, or are perceived to be, different from us may continue to subsist. None- theless, it is precisely these differences that make up humanity, and it is affirmation and respect for these differences that make it so truly wonderful to be humans. The Holocaust and South Africa's decades-long sufferings from apartheid, to name but two, vividly illu- minated the dangers and perils into which prejudices and stereotypes are capable of degen- erating. Equality is thus not an abstract notion: to be treated equally on the basis of one's merits alone is integral to the human experience and the integrity of each and every human society. This is not to say that life is or must be fair; human experience perforce dictates otherwise. It is, however, incumbent upon all of us to make life fairer. Whilst equality is now a principle legally celebrated in all international human rights treaties and most national and sub-national constitutions, the full and complete implemen- tation of these equality guarantees continues to be impeded if not entirely disregarded in and by many countries. I therefore commend and congratulate The International Journal of Human Rights' dedication and Phil C. W. Chan's editorship of a Special Double Issue that examines the status of achievement of equality in Asia-Pacific, the most populous region of the world. The range of coverage in this interdisciplinary Special Double Issue is impressive. These contributions, by leading scholars in their fields, assist us in our global understanding and appreciation of equality in law, in practice and, most impor- tantly, in its being normative. Readers within and without the Asia-Pacific Region there- fore have much to gain from the insights this Special Double Issue contains, for equality, upon which all human rights are premised, can all but be taken away with alacrity by those in a position of domination who will seek to maintain and exploit the status quo for their selfish concerns, and must be strengthened, by all of us, at all costs. Archbishop Desmond Tutu Truth and Reconciliation Commission Cape Town, South Africa ISSN 1364-2987 Print/1744-053X Online/07/1-20001-1 © 2007 Taylor & Francis DOI: 10.1080/13642980601176183

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