On 27 April 2017 at the American University of Rome, Dr. Lyal S. Sunga honored the memory of the University’s late Professor, James Walston, with a public lecture titled "What is Democracy without Human Rights or the Rule of Law?
Dr. Sunga first places the issue in philosophic and historical perspective and then explains how the rise of international human rights law arose in the aftermath of World War Two as a reaction against Nazi and Fascist abuse of democracy, human dignity and the rule of law. He then contrasts the success of the global human rights movement with the paucity of international norms on democratic governance and the rule of law since 1945. He contends that democratic governance today has to be measured by the extent to which it promotes and protects human rights and the rule of law. Finally, he reflects upon what democracy is without human rights or the rule of law, and takes questions from the audience.