Includes bibliographical references (pages 280-291) and index.

Introducing the international legal protection of vulnerable groups -- The legal protection of vulnerable groups as an integral component of the scope of international human rights law -- The practice of UN Treaty bodies and thematic UN special procedures relevant to the protection of vulnerable groups -- The practice of the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and the Committee on the Rights of the Child relevant to the protection of vulnerable groups -- Regional trends in the protection of vulnerable groups and their members -- The vulnerability paradigm of the European Court of Human Rights -- The practice of domestic courts relevant to vulnerable groups and persons -- Conclusive reflections.