"The path to a democratic and equitable order is through the expansion of public courts, not the creation of private courts with questionable transparency, accountability or independence."

"A just, peaceful, equitable and democratic world order must not be undermined by the activities of investors, speculators and transnational enterprises avid for immediate profit at the expense of social and economic progress."

"Surely the Council did not intend to convene an assembly of Cassandras when it established the Special Procedures."

"Investors and transnational enterprises have invented new rules to suit their needs, rules that impinge on the regulatory space of States and disenfranchise the public."

"Parliaments that do not genuinely represent, but act as if they had a blank check for x number of years lose their legitimacy."

"It is high time to mainstream human rights into all trade agreements and World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and regulations, so that trade representatives and dispute-settlers know that trade is neither a “stand alone” regime not an end in itself."

"The role of parliaments is crucial in ensuring human rights protection while promoting trade."

"No State will consent to a treaty when negative consequences are likely to outweigh potential benefits."

"Democracy must be lived and practiced every day. It entails much more than periodic voting, which in many cases is only pro forma, in the absence of public influence on the choice of candidates and scarce possibility of policy change."

"States have the sacred duty to ensure peace, while individuals and peoples have the right to peace."

"Democracy means a genuine correlation between the will of the people and legislation and policies that affect them, be it domestic or international."

"Decolonization was not only just and consistent with the Charter; it was necessary to end violence."

"Self-determination is an expression of the individual and collective right to democracy."

"Neither the right of self-determination nor the principle of territorial integrity is absolute."

"Direct, participatory and responsive democracy has been shown to be conducive to achieving a more just world order. Only such an approach will allow progressing from predator societies to human rights oriented societies."

"The bearers of the right of self-determination possess justiciable rights, not mere promises."

"Self-determination is now recognized as a principle of legitimacy underlying modern international law."

"The rules of the game must be changed so that loans are not granted on purely economic considerations and that the loan “conditionalities” henceforth aim at advancing the wellbeing of the populations concerned."

"Direct democracy is undoubtedly one of the most efficient, reliable and transparent methods to determine the will of the people."

"A violation of the right of self-determination gives rise to a legitimate human rights claim by individuals and groups and triggers State responsibility to make reparation."

"The strengthening of the human rights enforcement system is necessary to counter the prevalent architecture of corporate impunity."

"Professor de Zayas raises important issues about the politicization of the UN Human Rights Office and the Human Rights Council. He formulates pragmatic proposals for the reform of UN human rights institutions in the spirit of the UN Charter. The book is supported by hundreds of credible sources and calls for serious debate. PROFESSOR TIAN LI, Director of the Center for Human Rights and Peaceful Development & Associate Professor of School of Law, Shandong University, China"

"There are multiple ways of looking at self-determination. One understanding of the right focuses on the legitimacy of choice, so that every people may choose the form of government that it deems appropriate to its culture and traditions. Another perspective focuses on the right of two or more peoples to unify into one single State."

"In its essence, the right of self-determination means that individuals and peoples should be in control of their destinies and should be able to live out their identities, whether within the boundaries of existing States or through independence."

"World peace and security are best served when States observe treaties in good faith."

"Most States have enshrined in their Constitution and legislation the concept of ordre public"

"All international investment agreements under negotiation should include a clear provision stipulating that in case of conflict between the human rights obligations of a State and those under other treaties, human rights conventions prevail"

"A government that compromises its competence to defend and protect the interests of the persons living under its jurisdiction betrays its raison d’être and loses its democratic legitimacy"

"There is consensus among States, judges of international tribunals and professors of international law that self-determination is not only a principle but also a right that has achieved the status of jus cogens."

"A State that fails to ensure the human rights of the population living under its jurisdiction is a failed State"

"To the extent that bilateral investment treaties and free trade agreements lead to violations of human rights, they should be modified or terminated"

"Among the rights that States must ensure are the rights to life, security of person, participation in the conduct of public affairs, homeland, movement, health, education, employment and social security"

"The issue of corporate criminal responsibility for ecocide and other offences deserves in-depth analysis in a future report"

"Over the past twenty-five years bilateral international treaties and free trade agreements with investor-state-dispute-settlement have adversely impacted the international order and undermined fundamental principles of the UN, State sovereignty, democracy and the rule of law. It prompts moral vertigo in the unbiased observer."

"Globalization cannot be allowed to become the grand global casino where investors rig the system to guarantee that they always win"

"Democracy is not exercised only once in a while, but entails a continuing dialogue between representatives and constituents"

"Norms cannot be applied à la carte."

"All peoples have the right of self-determination."

"States should significantly reduce military spending and develop conversion strategies to reorient resources towards social services, the creation of employment in peaceful industries, and greater support to the post-2015 development agenda."

"Article 103 of the UN charter says that if there is a conflict between the provisions of the charter and any other treaty, it is the charter that prevails."

"A truly democratic country must proactively inform the public so that the public can decide on spending priorities."

"I am especially worried about the impact that investor-state-arbitrations (ISDS) have already had and foreseeably will have on human rights, in particular the provision which allows investors to challenge domestic legislation and administrative decisions if these can potentially reduce their profits."

"Downsizing military budgets will enable sustainable development, the eradication of extreme poverty, the tackling of global challenges including pandemics and climate change, educating and socializing youth towards peace, cooperation and international solidarity."

"Representative democracy deserves the predicate “democratic” only if and when parliamentarians genuinely represent their constituents."

"Democracy and self-determination serve the overall goal of enabling human security and human rights."

"In the light of continued warmongering by some States, it is apparent that resolutions of the General Assembly, including its resolution 68/28, have not succeeded in reducing tensions."

"It would be preferable to teach that honour and glory can also be won through civil courage and working for social justice."

"A democratic and equitable international order can only flourish in a peaceful environment. With conflict prevention being the overarching raison d’être of the United Nations, the hundreds of wars since 1945 indicate that the Organization must reform in order to live up to its purposes and principles."

"Let us rediscover the spirituality of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and revive the legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt, Charles Malik and Rene Cassin. We owe it to ourselves and future generations. With God’s help we will build – together – a better world."