Human Rights
Introduction
Human Rights are basic rights and freedoms that every human being is entitled to, irrespective of his or her nationality, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, language, sexual orientation, place of residence or any other status. Each person is equally entitled to human rights without discrimination. Human Rights are therefore considered to be universal rights. These include the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and expression, the right to education, the right to food as well as economic, social and cultural rights. Human Rights are often expressed and ensured by law in the form of national legislation, international treaties, customary international law, general principles and other sources of international law. Human Rights entail both rights and obligations. States assume obligations and duties under international law to respect, to protect and to fulfill human rights. The obligation to protect requires States to protect individuals and groups against human rights abuses. At the individual level, each person should also respect the human rights of others.
This Research Guide is intended as a starting point for research in the field of Human Rights. It provides the basic legal materials available in the Peace Palace Library, both in print and electronic format. Handbooks, leading articles, bibliographies, periodicals, serial publications and documents of interest are presented in the Selective Bibliography section. Links to the PPL Catalogue are inserted. The Library's systematic classification → Public international law and subject heading (keyword) Human rights are instrumental for searching through the Catalogue. Special attention is given to our subscriptions on databases, e-journals, e-books and other electronic resources. Finally, this Research Guide features links to relevant websites and other online resources of particular interest.
Library Special Women's rights and gender equality
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Reference works
- Bantekas, I. and L. Oette, International Human Rights Law and Practice, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2016.
- Benedek, W., Menschenrechte Verstehen: Handbuch zur Menschenrechtsbildung, Berlin, Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag (BWV), 2017.
- Buergenthal, T., D. Shelton and D.P. Stewart, International Human Rights in a Nutshell, St. Paul, West, 2009.
- Cushman, Th. (ed.), Handbook of Human Rights, London, Routledge, 2012.
- Fellmeth, A.X., Paradigms of International Human Rights Law, New York, Oxford University Press, 2016.
- Fernandez de Casadevante Romani (ed.), C., Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos, Dilex S.L., 2011.
- Haas, M., International Human Rights: A Comprehensive Introduction, London, Routledge, 2014.
- Hopwood, S. (eds.) (et al.), Human Rights Futures, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2017.
- Joseph, S. and A. McBeth, Research Handbook on International Human Rights Law, Cheltenham, Elgar, 2010.
- Kälin, W. and J. Künzli, Universeller Menschenrechtsschutz: der Schutz des Individuums auf Globaler und Regionaler Ebene, Basel/Baden-Baden, Helbing Lichtenhahn Verlag/Nomos Verlag, 2013.
- Fernandez Liesa, C., El Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos en Perspectiva Historica, Cizur Menor, Civitas, 2014.
- Kolb, R. and G.Gaggioli (eds.), Research Handbook on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar, 2013.
- McBeth, A. (et. al.), The International Law of Human Rights, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Oxford University Press, 2017.
- Moeckli, D. (eds.) (et al.), International Human Rights Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018.
- Rainey, B., Human Rights Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018.
- Rehman, J., International Human Rights Law, Harlow, Pearson, 2010.
- Schutter, O. de, International Human Rights Law; Cases, Materials, Commentary, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2014.
- Smith, R.K.M., Textbook on International Human Rights, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018.
- Sudre, F., Droit Europeén et International des Droits de l'Homme, Paris, Presses universitaires de France, 2012.
- Weissbrodt, D., F.D. Ní Aoláin and M. Rumsey (ed.), Library of Essays on International Human Rights, Volume I: The Development of International Human Rights Law, Farnham /Surrey, Ashgate, 2014.
(in the catalogue: Reference works can best be found using the advanced search option. Select keyword and type human rights and in the next line select keyword and type manuals)
Books and reference works on selected issues
- Angel, W.D.(ed.), The International Law of Youth Rights, Leiden/Boston, Brill Nijhoff, 2015.
- Atapattu, S., Human Rights Approaches to Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities, Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2016.
- Banda, F. and L. Fishbayn Joffe (eds.), Women's Rights and Religious Law: Domestic and International Perspectives, London/New York, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2016.
- Baughen, S., Human Rights and Corporate Wrongs: Closing the Governance Gap, Cheltenham/Northampton, Elgar, 2015.
- Bhabha, J. (et al.) (eds.), Realizing Roma Rights, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2017.
- Bielefeldt, H. (et al.), Freedom of Religion or Belief : An International Law Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016.
- Brems, E. (eds. (et al.), Children's Rights Law in the Global Human Rights Landscape : isolation, inspiration, integration?, London, Routledge, 2017.
- Brysk, A., and M. Stohl (eds.), Expanding Human Rights : 21st Century Norms and Governance, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017.
- Burson, B., Human Rights and the Refugee Definition : Comparative Legal Practice and Theory, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff, 2016.
- Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights, Bringing a Case to the European Court of Human Rights, Oisterwijk, Wolf Legal Publishers, 2014.
- Criddle, E.J. (ed.), Human Rights in Emergencies, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2016.
- Dembour, M-B., When Humans Become Migrants : Study of the European Court of Human Rights with an Inter-American Counterpoint, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2015.
- Dijk, P. Van (eds.) (et. al.), Theory and practice of the European Convention on Human Rights, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2018.
- El Demery, A.M., The Arab Charter of Human Rights: A Voice for Sharia in the Modern World, Chicago, Council on International Law and Politics, 2015.
- Evans, M.D., P. Petkoff and J. Rivers (eds.), The Changing Nature of Religious Rights under International Law, Oxford/New York, Oxford University Press, 2015.
- Farrior, S., Equality and Non-Discrimination under International Law, Volume II, Library of Essays on International Human Rights, Franham/Burlington, Ashgate, 2015.
- Fawcett, J. J. (et al.), Human Rights and Private International Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016.
- Gerards, J. and E. Brems (eds.), Procedural Review in European Fundamental Rights Cases, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2017.
- Hassine, K. and S. Leckie(eds.), The United Nations Principles on Housing and Property Restitition for Refugees and Displaced Persons ("The Pinheiro Principles"): a Commentary, Leiden , Brill Nijhoff 2016.
- Hehir, A., and Murray, R.W. (eds.), Protecting Human Rights in the 21st Century, London, Routledge, 2017.
- Hohmann, J. and M. Weller, The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018. E-book.
- Jänterä-Jareborg, M., and H. Tigroudja (eds.), Women's Human Rights and the Elimination of Discrimination = Les Droits des Femmes et l'Élimination de la Discrimination, Leiden, Brill, 2016.
- Kanter, A.S., The Development of Disability Rights under International Law: From Charity to Human Rights, London/New York, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2015.
- Karimova, T., Human Rights and Development in International Law, London/New York, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2016.
- Karpenstein, U. und F.C. Mayer, Konvention zum Schutz der Menschenrechte und Grundfreiheiten: Kommentar, München, Verlag C.H. Beck, 2015.
- Lennox, C. and D. Short (eds.), Handbook of Indigenous Peoples' Rights, London/ New York, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2016
- Lerner, N., The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Leiden/Boston, Brill/Nijhoff, 2014.
- Liefaard, T. and J.E. Doek (eds.), Litigating the Rights of the Child: the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Domestic and International Jurisprudence, Dordrecht, Springer, 2015.
- Lobba, P., Judicial Dialogue on Human Rights: the Practice of International Criminal Tribunals, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff , 2017.
- Lõhmus, K., Caring Autonomy: European Human Rights Law and the Challenge of Individualism, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015
- McQuigg, R.J.A., Istanbul Convention, Domestic Violence and Human Rights, London, Routledge, 2017.
- Medina, C., The American Convention on Human Rights : Crucial Rights and Their Theory and Practice, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2016.
- Mélanges en l’Honneur de Dean Spielmann = Essays in Honour of Dean Spielmann: Liber Amicorum Dean Spielmann, Oisterwijk, Wolf Legal Publishers (WLP), 2015.
- Mills, K. and D.J. Karp (eds.), Human Rights Protection in Global Politics: Responsibilites of States and Non-State Actors, Basingstoke / New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2015.
- Moreno-Lax, V. and E. Papastavridis (eds.), 'Boat Refugees' and Migrants at Sea: a Comprehensive Approach: Integrating Maritime Security With Human Rights, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff, 2017.
- Murray, Human Rights Obligations of Non-State Armed Groups, Hart, 2016.
- Murray, D. (et al.) (eds.), Practitioners' Guide to Human Rights Law in Armed Conflict, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016.
- Mustaniemi-Laakso, M., and H.O. Sano (eds.), Human Rights-Based Change: the Institutionalisation of Economic and Social rights, Cheltenham, Routledge, 2017.
- Oberleitner, G., Human Rights in Armed Conflict: Law, Practice, Policy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015.
- Pease, K.K., Human Rights and Humanitarian Diplomacy, Manchester, Manchester University Press, 2016.
- Rathenau Institute, Human Rights in the Robot Age: Challenges Arising From the Use of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual and Augmented Reality. A report from the Rathenau Institute.
- Schabas, W.A., The European Convention on Human Rights: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2015.
- Shelton, D., Remedies in International Human Rights Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2015.
- Staiano, F., The Human Rights of Migrant Women In International and European Law, Torino, G. Giappichelli, 2017.
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Cambridge University Press, 2018.
- Wilmer, F., Human Rights in International Politics: An Introduction, Boulder/London, Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2015.
Documents / Instruments
There are nine core international human rights instruments, often supplemented by optional protocols dealing with specific concerns. Each of these instruments has established a committee of experts to monitor implementation of the treaty provisions by its State parties. These instruments and committees are:
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Human Rights Committee)
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women)
- Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Committee against Torture)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (Committee on the Rights of the Child)
- International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (committee on Migrant Workers)
- International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (Committee on Enforced Disappearances)
- the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).
A Selection of Relevant Titles Concerned With These Nine Human Rights Instruments
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (New York, 7 March 1966)
- Angst, D., La Convention Internationale Sur l'Élimination de Toutes les Formes de Discrimination Raciale (CEDR), Genève, Schulthess, 2014, pp. 268-281.
- Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Selected decisions of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Vol. I: Thirty-sixth to seventy-fifth sessions (August 1988-August 2011), New York, United Nations, 2012. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Sélection de décisions du Comité pour l'Élimination de la Discrimination Raciale (2012-...), New York, United Nations, 2012-….
- Gouttes, R. de, “La lutte contre la discrimination raciale sur le plan international : la Convention Internationale et le Comité pour l'Élimination de toutes les Formes de Discrimination Raciale”, In: Dizdarevic, A.S. & R. Koussetogue Koudé (dir.), Les Droits de l'Homme: Défis et Mutations: Actes des Travaux Marquant le XXVe Anniversaire de l'IDHL, Paris : le Harmattan, 2013, pp. 127-141.
- Keane, D., “Is the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination the De Facto Minority Rights Treaty?”, in: Buckley, C.M. (et al.) (eds.), Towards Convergence in International Human Rights Law: Approaches of Regional and International Systems, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff, 2017 pp. 275-295.
- Kruckenberg, L.J., The UNreal World of Human Rights: An Ethnography of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2012.
- Lerner, N., The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff, 2015.
- Malaihollo, M., “The International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: Reviewing Special Measures under Contemporary International Law”, in: Groningen Journal of International Law, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2017, pp. 135-146.
- Thornberry, P., The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (New York, 16 December 1966)
- Decaux, E. (dir.), Le Pacte International Relatif aux Droits Civils et Politiques : Commentaire Article par Article, Economica, Paris, 2011.
- Faúndez Ledesma, H., El Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos y la Jurisprudencia del Comité́ de Derechos Humanos, Caracas, Universidad Católica, Andrés Bello, 2014.
- Joseph, S., and M. Castan, The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights : Cases, Materials, and Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2013.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (New York, 16 December 1966)
- Saul, B. (ed.), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights : Travaux Préparatoires, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016.
- Hae-Bong, S., “Toward a Holistic Understanding and Implementation of Human Rights : Development of Norms and Practice under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”, In: Japanese Yearbook of International Law; Vol. 59 (2016), pp. 51-80.
- Schrijver, N., “Approaching Fifty: the Future of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights” , In: Hanschel, D. (eds.)(et al), Mensch und Recht : Festschrift für Eibe Riedel zum 70. Geburtstag, Berlin, Duncker & Humblot, 2013, pp. 147-152.
- Wang, Z., Treaty Commitment as a Signaling Device: Explaining the Ratification of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, In: Human Rights Review; Vol. 17 (2016), No. 2, pp. 193-220.
United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (New York, 18 December 1979)
- Cameron, E.A.M., The Rights of Women and the Elimination of Discrimination: Selective Bibliography, 2014 = Les Droits des Femmes et l'Élimination de la Discrimination: Bibliographie Sélective, 2014, The Hague, Peace Palace Library, 2014.
- Campbell, M., “Women's Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women : Unlocking the Potential of the Optional Protocol”, In: Nordic Journal of Human Rights; Vol. 34 (2016), No. 4, pp. 247-271.
- Freeman, M.A., (eds.) (et. al.), The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2012.
- Jänterä-Jareborg, M. and H.Tigroudja, Women's Human Rights and the Elimination of Discrimination = Les Droits des Femmes et l'Élimination de la Discrimination, Leiden, Brill | Nijhoff, 2016.
- Hellum, A., and H.S. Aasen (eds.), Women's Human Rights: CEDAW in International, Regional, and National Law, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2013.
- Hodson, L., “Women's Rights and the Periphery: CEDAW's Optional Protocol”, In: European Journal of International Law; Vol. 25 (2014), No. 2, pp. 561-578.
- McQuigg, R.J.A., “The CEDAW Committee and Gender-Based Violence against Women”, In: International Human Rights Law Review; Vol. 6 (2017), No. 2, pp. 263-278.
- Meyer, E., “Designing Women: The Definition of Woman in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Comment)”, In: Chicago Journal of International Law; Vol. 16 (2016), No. 2, pp. 553-590.
- Rodriquez Huerta, G., Colección del Sistema Universal de Protección de los Derechos Humanos ; Fascículo 6: La Convención sobre la Eliminación de todas las Formas de Discriminación contra la Mujer (CEDAW), México, Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, 2012.
- Roman, D. (dir.), La Convention pour l'Élimination des Discriminations à l'Égard des Femmes, Paris, Editions A. Pedone, 2014.
United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (New York, 10 December 1984)
- Creamer, C.D. and B.A. Simmons, “Ratification, Reporting, and Rights: Quality of Participating in the Convention against Torture”, In: Human Rights Quarterly; Vol. 37 (2015), No. 3, pp. 579-608.
- Evans, M., “The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture in the Developing Architecture of UN Torture Protection”, In: Nolan, A. (eds. ) (et. al.), The United Nations Special Procedures System, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff, 2017.
- Garcia de Alba, R., Colección del Sistema Universal de Protección de los Derechos Humanos; Fascículo 7: La Convención contra la Tortura y Otros Tratos o Penas Crueles, Inhumanos o Degradantes, México, Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, 2012.
- Imhof, S., “La Convention Contre la Torture et Autres Peines ou Traitements Cruels, Inhumains ou Dégradants”, In: Hertig Randall, M. and M. Hottelier (dir.), Introduction aux Droits de l'Homme, Introduction aux Droits de l'Homme, Genève, Schultess, 2014.
- Nowak, M., The United Nations Convention against Torture: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2008.
- Nowak, M., “Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment”, in: Clapham, A., and P. Gaeta (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Armed Conflict, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 387-409.
- Renzulli, I., “A Critical Reflection on the Conceptual and Legal Foundations of the Duty to prevent Torture”, International Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 20 (2016), No. 8, pp. 1244-1263.
- Tate, K.E., “Torture: Does the Convention against Torture Work to Actually Prevent Torture in Practice by States Party to the Convention (Comment)”, In: Willamette Journal of International Law and Dispute Resolution; Vol. 21 (2013), No. 2, pp. 194-222.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (New York, 20 November 1989)
- Cohen, C.P., Jurisprudence on the Rights of the Child, Ardsley, NY, Transnational Publishers, 2004.
- Cvejić Jančić, O., “The Rights of the Child in a Changing World : the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: 25 Years after”, In: Schauer, M. and B. Verschraegen (eds.), General Reports of the XIXth Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law = Rapports généraux du XIXème Congrès de l'Académie Internationale de Droit Comparé, Dordrecht, Springer, 2017.
- Detrick, S.L., A Commentary on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, The Hague, Kluwer Law International, 1999.
- Garcia Chavarria, A.B., Colección del Sistema Universal de Protección de los Derechos Humanos ; Fascículo 8: La Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño, México Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, 2012.
- Liefaard, T., and J.E. Doek, (eds.), Litigating the Rights of the Child: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Domestic and International Jurisprudence, Dordrecht, Springer, 2015.
- Schmahl, S., Kinderrechtskonvention : Mit Zusatzprotokollen : Handkommentar, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2017.
United Nations Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (New York, 18 December 1990)
- Morales Sanchez, J., Colección del Sistema Universal de Protección de los Derechos Humanos; Fascículo 9: La Convención Internacional sobre la Protección de los Derechos de Todos los Trabajadores Migratorios y de sus Familiares, México, Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, 2012.
- Pécoud, A., “The Politics of the UN Convention on Migrant Workers Rights”, In: Groningen Journal of International Law; Vol. 5 (2017), No. 1, pp. 57-72.
- Pécoud, A. and Guchteneire, P. de, “Migration, Human Rights and the United Nations: An Investigation into the Obstacles to the UN Convention on Migrant Workers' Rights”, In: Chetail, V. (ed.), International Law and Migration, Vol. 2, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016, pp. 59-84.
- Ryan, B., “In Defence of the Migrant Workers Convention: Standard Setting for Contemporary Migration”, In: Juss, S.S. (ed.), The Ashgate Companion to Migration Law, Theory and Policy, Farnham, Ashgate, 2013, pp. 491-515.
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (New York, 20 December 2006)
- Citroni, G., “The Contribution of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and Other International Human Rights Bodies to the Struggle against Enforced Disappearance”, In: Haeck, Y. (eds.) (et al.), The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2015, pp. 379-401.
- Decaux, E., “La Convention Internationale Pour la Protection de toutes les Personnes Contre les Disparitions Forcées, Ombres et Lumieres sur la Vie Privée et Familiale”, In: Casadevall, G.R. (eds.) (et al.), Mélanges en l’honneur de Dean Spielmann = Essays in Honour of Dean Spielmann, Oisterwijk, Wolf Legal Publishers, 2015, pp. 117-125.
- Frouville, O. de, “On the Twentieth Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration for the Protection of All Persons Against Enforced Disappearances”, In: Cantú Rivera, H. (ed.), The Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council : A Brief Look from the Inside and Perspectives from Outside, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2015, pp. 103-111.
- Huhle, R., “Das Verschwindenlassen von Personen : Eine Erste Bilanz der Umsetzung der UN-Konvention”, In: Vereinte Nationen; Vol. 63 (2015), No. 4, pp. 166-170.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (New York, 13 December 2006).
- Broderick, A., The Long and Winding Road to Equality and Inclusion for Persons With Disabilities : The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2015.
- Degener, T., “10 years of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”, In: Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights; Vol. 35 (2017), No. 3, pp. 152-157.
- Espinosa, D.L., Colección del Sistema Universal de Protección de los Derechos Humanos ; Fascículo 10: La Convención sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad, México, Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, 2012.
Regional Instruments
There are regional human right instruments in Europe, the Americas and Africa:
Africa
- The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights 1981 (Banjul Charter), and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa 2003 (Maputo Protocol)
- The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 1990 (The ACRWC or Children's Charter)
Americas
- American Convention on Human Rights 1969 (The Pact of San José, Costa Rica) and the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1988 (The Protocol of San Salvador) and also the Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty, 1990.
- American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, 1948.
- The Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture, 1985
- The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women, 1994 (Convention of Belém do Pará)
Europe:
- The European Convention on Human Rights 1950 (Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms)
- The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 1987
A selection of books containing a compilation of human rights instruments:
- Bisset, A. (ed.), Blackstone's International Human Rights Documents, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2014.
- Council of Europe, Handbook on European Law Relating to the Rights of the Child, 2015.
- Fennell, S. and D. Andoni (eds.), The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights: Basic Documents, Oisterwijk, Wolf Legal Publishers, 2014.
- Ghandhi, S. (ed.), Blackstone's International Human Rights Documents, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2012.
- Goodwin-Gill, (ed.), Brownlie's Documents on Human Rights, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2010.
- Heyns, C. and M. Killander (eds.), Compendium of Key Human Rights Documents of the African Union, Pretoria, Pretoria University Law Press, 2013
- Kempen, van, P.H.P.H.M.C., International and Regional Human Rights Documents, Nijmegen, Wolf Legal Publishers, 2010
- MacDonald QC, A., The Rights of the Child: Annotated Materials, Bristol, Jordan Publishing Limited, 2015.
- Malekian, F. and K. Nordlöf, Confessing the International Rights of Children: The Basic Documents with Analysis, Newcastle upon Tyne, Cambridge Scholars, 2012.
- Mares, R., Business and Human Rights: a Compilation of Documents, Leiden, Nijhoff, 2004
- Marks, S., Health and Human rights: Basic International Documents, Boston, MA : François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard School of Public Health, 2006
- Quinn, F. (ed.), Selected Human Rights Documents for the New Independent States and Central Europe, Den Bosch, BookWorld Publications, 2001
- Smith, R., Core Documents on European and International Human Rights, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.
- Varennes, De F. (ed.), Asia-Pacific Human Rights Documents and Resources, The Hague, Nijhoff, 1998-2000
- Wolf, van der, W., C. Tofan and D. de Ruiter (eds.), Human Rights and HIV/AIDS: Selected Documents, The Hague, International Courts Association, 2011.
Online: U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Universal Human Rights Instruments.
(In the catalogue: Documents can best be found using the advanced search option. Select keyword and type human rights and in the next line select keyword and type documents)
Periodicals, serial publications
- African Human Rights Law Journal
- African Human Rights Law Reports
- Canadian Human Rights Yearbook
- East European Human Rights Review
- Harvard Human Rights Journal
- Human Rights = Menschenrechte = Droits de l'homme = Anthrōpina dikaiōmata
- Human Rights : A Basic Handbook for UN Staff
- Human Rights : a quarterly review of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights = Droits de l'homme : revue trimestrielle du Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies aux Droits de l'Homme
- Human Rights Brief
- Human Rights : Journal of the Section of Individual Rights & Responsibilities
- Human Rights Law Review
- The International Journal of Human Rights
- International & Comparative Law Quarterly
- Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights
- New York Law School Journal of Human Rights Journal of Human Rights
- Nortwestern University Journal of Iinternational Human Rights
- Revue des Droits de l'Homme : Droit International et Droit Comparé = Human Rights Journal : International and Comparative Law
- Revue trimestrielle des droits de l'homme
- South African Journal on Human Rights
- South African Human Rights Yearbook
See this link for other human rights related journals http://lawlib.wlu.edu/LJ/index2014.aspx?country=All%20Countries&subject=Human+Rights
Bibliographies
New titles
Librarian's choice
Gilabert, P., Human Dignity & Human Rights, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018.
View this title in our discovery serviceHuman dignity: social movements invoke it, several national constitutions enshrine it, and it features prominently in international human rights documents. But what is human dignity, why is it important, and what is its relationship to human rights?0This book offers a sophisticated and comprehensive defence of the view that human dignity is the moral heart of human rights. First, it clarifies the network of concepts associated with dignity. Paramount within this network is a core notion of human dignity as an inherent, non-instrumental, egalitarian, and high-priority normative status of human persons. People have this status in virtue of their valuable human capacities rather than as a result of their national origin and other conventional0features. Second, it shows how human dignity gives rise to an inspiring ideal of solidaristic empowerment, which calls us to support people's pursuit of a flourishing life by affirming both negative duties not to block or destroy, and positive duties to protect and facilitate, the development and exercise of the valuable capacities at the basis of their dignity. The most urgent of these duties are correlative to human rights. Third, this book illustrates how the proposed dignitarian approach allows us to articulate the content, justification, and feasible implementation of specific human rights, including contested ones, such as the rights to democratic political participation and to decent labour conditions. Finally, this book's dignitarian approach helps illuminate the arc of humanist justice, identifying both the difference and the continuity between the basic requirements of human rights and more expansive requirements of social justice such as those defended by liberal egalitarians and democratic socialists.
Nakanishi, Y. (ed.), Contemporary Issues in Human Rights Law : Europe and Asia, Singapore, Springer Open, 2018.
View this title in our discovery serviceThis book analyzes issues in human rights law from a variety of perspectives by eminent European and Asian professors of constitutional law, international public law, and European Union law.
As a result, their contributions collected here illustrate the phenomenon of cross-fertilization not only in Europe (the EU and its member states and the Council of Europe), but also between Europe and Asia. Furthermore, it reveals the influence that national and foreign law, EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights, and European and Asian law exert over one another.
The various chapters cover general fundamental rights and human rights issues in Europe and Asia as well as specific topics regarding the principles of nondiscrimination, women’s rights, the right to freedom of speech in Japan, and China’s Development Banks in Asia.
Protection of human rights should be guaranteed in the international community, and research based on a comparative law approach is useful for the protection of human rights at a higher level. As the product of academic cooperation between ten professors of Japanese, Taiwanese, German, Italian, and Belgian nationalities, this work responds to such needs.
Moeckli, D. (et al.) (eds.), International Human Rights Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018.
View this title in our discovery serviceWritten by leading experts in the field, this textbook explores international human rights law in detail, from foundational issues to substantive rights and systems of protection. A variety of perspectives bring this subject to life, making International Human Rights Law the ideal companion for students of human rights.Breadth and depth of coverage provide a thorough and complete guide for students of international human rights law
Takes students from philosophical foundations, through substantive rights, to contemporary issues and challenges
Each chapter is written by an expert in their respective field, providing critical analysis and exposing the reader to a unique variety of perspectives
Includes useful features such as chapter summaries, charts, and suggestions for further readingSmith, R.K.M., International Human Rights Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018.
View this title in our discovery serviceIllustrating the scope of this fascinating and wide-reaching subject to the student, this clear and concise text gives a broad introduction to international human rights law. Coverage includes regional systems of protection, the role of the UN, and a variety of substantive rights. The author skilfully guides students through the complexities of the subject, and then prepares them for further study and research. Key cases and areas of debate are highlighted throughout, and a wealth of references to cases and further readings are provided at the end of each chapter.
Database
- Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, Human Rights, by Thomas Buergenthal.
- Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, by Robert Kolb.
- Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, Human Rights Committee, by Christian Tomuschat.
- Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, Human Rights, Treaties, Extraterritorial Application and Effects, by Nicola Wenzel.
- Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, Human Rights, Treaty Bodies, Peter-Tobias Stoll.
- Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, Human Rights, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), by Ineke Boerefijn. The Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (MPEPIL) is a comprehensive online resource containing over 1600 peer-reviewed articles on every aspect of public international law. It has been re-designed to improve the look and feel of the site, and the search functionality. Written and edited by an incomparable team of over 800 scholars and practitioners, published in partnership with the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, and updated throughout the year. All included articles are peer-reviewed and treat international law from a global/regional perspective. This major reference work is essential for anyone researching or teaching international law.
- Nijhoff, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law - Ebooks. Fulltext searchable collections of book titles (monographs, edited volumes, and handbooks) as published annually by Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. Subject that are covered include public international law, law of the sea, international trade law, international labour law, environmental law, European law, Islamic law, international relations, international organizations, terrorism and legal history.
- Oxford Reports, International Human Rights Law. The Oxford Reports on International Human Rights Law covers international decisions on human rights from a variety of global and regional courts. The Human Rights Law Centre at Nottingham University has selected those cases which are most important for gaining an understanding of the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights. IHRL will provide a comprehensive coverage of the key issues determined by the European Commission and Court to date. Cases selected include all plenary and grand chamber judgments at the admissibility and merits stage of proceedings, as well as other decisions and judgments of significance for their contribution to the development of the case law of the European Convention. This module will include approximately 500 decisions from year 1961 to 2007, and thereafter 150 per year (out of 900-1000 decisions per year).
- United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law, Human Rights Lecture Series. The Lecture Series contains a permanent collection of lectures of enduring value on virtually every subject of international law given by leading international law scholars and practitioners from different regions, legal systems, cultures and sectors of the legal profession. The lectures are organized by subject matter, under the headings on the left of the page. Additional information about the lecturer and, when available, a brief description of the lecture, as well as related materials (lecture outline, presentation slides, references, recommended readings, etc.) can be accessed by clicking the “read more” link underneath the lecture titles.
Blogs
Universal Declaration of Human Rights 70 years: 1948 - 2018
On 10 December 2018, it will be seventy years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Thanks to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and States’ commitments to its principles, the dignity of millions has been uplifted, untold human suffering prevented and the foundations for a most just world have been laid. To celebrate the 70th Anniversary UN Human Rights is launching a year-long campaign on 10 December.
Read moreMen and Boys as Hidden Victims of Sexual Violence
Generally, victims of rape and other types of sexual violence are reluctant to speak out. Unfortunately, exclusion and stigmatization are the unavoidable corollary of acts of sexual violence. While there still is limited awareness, focus and advocacy on women’s rights in sexually violent circumstances, it is even less so when men are the victims of these crimes. Reflections on the male victims’ perspective to sexual violence in unrest inspired Sophia Ugwu and her team at Centre for African Justice Peace and Human Rights, a non-profit Foundation based in The Hague, to organise a Symposium on sexual violence perpetrated against the Male gender.
Read moreThe African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Reflections on Recent Progress
Recent years have seen the African Court begin to find its stride. Its willingness to expand its jurisdiction and defend vulnerable groups against powerful states has shown it to be a bold court with a desire to vigorously uphold its mandate to protect human rights on the Continent. Whilst it indeed seems that the Court has the aspiration to assert itself, the fact that so few states have deposited their Special Declarations allowing individuals and NGOs direct access to the Court continues to hamper its effectiveness. The Court’s outreach efforts to engage with states and civil society in response to this paucity of Special Declarations do appear to be having some success, however, progress has been slow and the Court may have to have recourse to other means to improve state engagement in future.
Read morePerspectives on Mass Violence: Peace and Conflict Studies and Genocide Studies Compared
This week’s compelling guest blog compares the fields of Conflict Studies with Genocide Studies, its intriguing differences and similarities and the general lack of cross-pollination between them, even though they both deal with questions of collective violence and individual participation in violence. The author, Kjell Anderson, is a jurist and social scientist and works in both fields of Conflict Studies and Genocide studies.
Read moreInternational Data Privacy Day 2018
People’s personal data are being processed every second; at work, in their relations with public authorities, in the health field, when they buy goods or services, travel or surf the Internet. Individuals are generally unfamiliar with the risks related to the protection of their personal data and of their rights in this respect. “Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data and Enabling Trust” is the theme for Data Privacy Day 2018, an international effort held annually on January 28 to create awareness about the importance of privacy and protecting personal information. We have created a bibliographic overview on this topic intended as a starting point for research. It provides materials available in the Peace Palace Library catalogue, both in print and electronic format.
Read moreRobots and Rights
Recently, an intelligent and human looking robot named Sophia made global headlines when Saudi Arabia granted the humanoid robot Saudi citizenship. According to the headlines, Saudi Arabia became the first country to grant a robot citizenship. The news caused quite a stir – the female looking robot was not wearing a hijab, she was not accompanied by a male guardian and the robot was awarded citizenship, which made it look like a humanoid intelligent robot was given more rights than women and migrants living in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is known for its restrictive policy concerning women’s rights and Saudi women have only recenly been given the right to drive a car. Perhaps it is a bit premature to give an AI humanoid robots like Sophia citizenship rights. Was it a publicity stunt? Yes.
Read moreTargeted Killing of European Foreign Terrorist Fighters in Syria and Iraq
In recent years, a significant number of European nationals have travelled to Syria or Iraq to train and fight with terrorist groups such as the Islamic State (IS). This flow of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) has posed serious security concerns for Europe, in particular with regards to the threat posed by FTFs returning to Europe to carry out terrorist attacks. In this context, it appears that a number of States have resorted to targeted strikes against their citizens in Syria and Iraq.
Read moreSymposium and Book launch: "Women's Human Rights and the Elimination of Discrimination".
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, a Symposium including a book launch of the latest publication of the Academy, “Women’s Human Rights and the Elimination of Discrimination,” took place in the Auditorium of the Academy building of the Peace Palace on Wednesday 8 March 2017. The symposium was opened by a word of welcome of professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Secretary-General of The Hague Academy of International Law. After the welcome address Ms. Saskia Bruines, the Deputy-Mayor of The Hague held a speech about gender equality, women in leadership positions. Unfortunately, the glass ceiling for women in career related matters has not yet been shattered.
Read moreInternational Women's Day: 8 March 2017
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. On this day the Hague Academy of International Law will organize a symposium and the booklaunch of the Centre’s 2014 research programme “Women’s Human Rights and the Elimination of Discrimination= Les droits des femmes et l’élimination de la discrimination”.
Read moreUniverse of Nonsense
In today’s malleable world of Big Data, wherein modern people use Google to know more but understand less, we risk forgetting how knowledge is created and how we can verify a fact. The internet would give us a more democratic and open media environment, but the opposite is true: we live in closed communities online, echo well show us what’s right, bubbles created algorithms which make us encounter only the news that confirms our worldview.This electronic world could lead to a feasible reality based on emotions, opinions, prejudices and places the truth based on objective facts more and more in the shade. All the battles for human rights and the call to freedom and justice will turn out meaningless.
Read moreInterview Sigrid Kaag
This month, we have the honor of interviewing Ms. Sigrid Kaag, a top Dutch diplomat who currently serves as a United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL). Last month, the Dutch Carnegie Foundation awarded Sigrid Kaag the Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize. Before the ceremony took place, we took the opportunity to interview Ms. Kaag to discuss her work at the UN, in particular, the succesful UN-OPCW joint mission Ms. Kaag led to eliminate the chemical weapons programme in Syria. We also discussed the role of international law in her daily work at the UN. Here’s what she had to say.
Read more'The World Forgetting, by the World Forgot'
At present there are many complex legal cases on cultural heritage waiting to be settled. These cases are a judicial challenge for all stakeholders. What makes it even more of a challenge is that most don’t realise the fact that cultural heritage is a component of a human rights issue. Cultural heritage could be described as a record of the genius of human beings. The legacy of artefacts, antiquities, traditions and living expressions could be seen as unintelligible foot print left behind for the next generations to mark our path through this world. It’s unimaginable to separate a people’s cultural heritage from the people itself and their rights.
Read moreTowards a Toolbox for Nationality Legislation
From 13 to 14 October Prof. Dr. Gerard–René de Groot will host his farewell seminar on the ”Future of nationality law” at Maastricht University. In this seminar specialists in the field of nationality law will discuss how academia and civil society can best collaborate in the fight to eradicate statelessness. With whole populations adrift, nationality and citizenship today are critically important to gain admittance in a state. Nationality is in fact commonly regarded as an inalienable right of every human being. Thus, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) states that “everyone has the right to a nationality” and that “no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality.”
Read moreA 100-year (Hi)Story of Statelessness
This blog looks at the 100-year (hi)story of the international community’s response to the phenomenon of statelessness. It explores four key chapters: the early international agreements which set the first limits on states’ freedom to regulate nationality; the post-WWII response by the United Nations to the scourge of statelessness; the emergence of the right to a nationality as a fundamental – and justiciable – human right; and finally the launch of a bold and ambitious campaign to eradicate statelessness once and for all.
Read moreSports and Russian Doping: Fairness vs. the Human Right to Sport
Devastating Wada reports documented systematic, state-sponsored doping in Russian athletics. It found widespread state action to hide cheating among Russian athletes in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics, as well as a comprehensive cover up of doping during the World Championships in Moscow and the Winter Olympics in Sochi a year later. The IOC decided not to impose a blanket ban on the Russian team competing in the Rio Olympic Games. What’s fair play? Which human rights are in play? What is the credibility of the Olympic Games?
Read moreEnding Violence against Women
Violence against women occurs throughout the world. Despite great strides made by the international women’s rights movement over many years, women and girls around the world are still married as children or trafficked into forced labor and sex slavery. They are refused access to education and political participation, and some are trapped in conflicts where rape is perpetrated as a weapon of war. Not to mention sexual violence against women and girls, massive rape and sexual assaults in India, Germany and Brazil. In this blog I will address the UNiTE campaign, goals and the most prominent global norms and standards concerning the ending of violence against women.
Read moreRoma in Europe
Cor de Vos, former mayor of Nieuwegein, representative of the Netherlands in CAHROM, the Comittee of the Council of Europe for ROMA issues talks about the policies which are needed in Europe to address the living conditions of Roma. A very big effort of all authorities on European, national and local level is needed and should be directed at lifting the miserable conditions of the Roma people at the grassroots, first of all in Central and Eastern Europe, in order to prevent an even worse scenario of riot and violence.
Read moreThe Gerritsen Collection
The Gerritsen Collection is a comprehensive collection of works pertaining to women’s history, but it also contains a plentitude of books, articles and essays relevant to peace history and the development of international law. The collection honors the legacy of famous peace heroes and feminists. To help educate the public about the 19th century peace movement, the Library – with the assistance from the Bertha von Suttner Project – has subscribed to this database for 2015.
Read moreHuman Trafficking: Prevention, Prosecution and Protection under International Law
Despite restrictions and obligations under international law, it is estimated that $31.6 billion is illegally profiteered each year from human trafficking and forced labour of over 27 million people. Human trafficking or trafficking in persons is defined in the 2000 Palermo Protocol as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.”
Read moreDelfi AS v. Estonia: ECHR's decision on liability of websites for offensive online comments of its readers!
On 16 June 2015 the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has delivered the long awaited final judgment in the case of Delfi AS v. Estonia. The Court ruled in favor of Estonia, embracing the idea that websites should be held liable for certain types of anonymous comments posted by users. The Court concluded that there was no violation of Article 10 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. In this blog I will briefly discuss the background of this case on freedom of expression and the liability of user-generated content on websites and I will also quote the opinions of a few experts on the Delfi case.
Read moreMixed Migration Flows Across the Mediterranean: The EU Agenda on Migration
Wars, conflict and persecution have forced more people than at any other time in history to flee their homes and seek refuge and safety elsewhere, according to UNHCR’s annual Global Trends Report: World at War, released on June 18, two days before world refugee day. One of the most recent and highly visible consequences of the world’s conflicts and the terrible suffering they cause has been the dramatic growth in the numbers of refugees seeking safety through dangerous sea journeys, including on the Mediterranean, in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, and in Southeast Asia.
Read moreMore Legal Protection for Journalists?
On May first people around the world celebrate International Workers’ Day. Less known to the public are the festivities which take place Sunday, May third, in honor of World Press Freedom Day. On this date the international community celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
Read moreBorder Controls and Human Rights: Migration in the Central Mediterranean
The Central Mediterranean has, in the last years, turned into the epicentre of human (migrant) disasters. The Central Mediterranean route refers to the migratory flow coming from Northern Africa towards Italy and Malta through the Mediterranean Sea. Here, Libya often acts as nexus point where migrants from the Horn of Africa and Western African routes meet before embarking on their journey towards the EU.
Read moreShould Police Officers Wear Body Cameras? The Mike Brown Law
On 9 August the unarmed, afro-american 18-year-old boy, Michael Brown, was shot and killed by a 28-year-old caucasian police officer, Darren Wilson, in a working-class neighborhood in Ferguson, Mo. The shooting happened after police officer Wilson stopped Brown because he was jaywalking. Unfortunately both the police and the eyewitnesses tell a different story about what happened that evening. Eyewitnesses saw that Brown was shot while he trying to surrender but police officer Darren Wilson stated that Brown assaulted him just before the shooting.
Read moreThe Rights of Women and Elimination of Discrimination
On Monday the 18th of August 2014 the Centre for Studies and Research in International Law and International Relations will start. The Centre is a programme of The Hague Academy for International Law. Each year the Academy proposes a different research programme. This year’s programme is the Rights of Women and Elimination of Discrimination and the main focus will be on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the key international agreement on women’s human rights.
Read moreNelson Mandela (1918-2013)
Former South African President Nelson Mandela (Madiba) passed away on Thursday December 5, 2013, at age of 95, after a long illness at his home in Johannesburg. “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for, and to see realised. But my Lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
Read moreInternational Refugee Law blog series I: Exclusion of Refugee Status: The Criminal Refugee
In the western world it is possible you live next to a war criminal, or your child might be playing with the daughter of a war criminal at school. It is also possible to live there without a real prospect of obtaining a form of legal status and without being held criminally responsible for the alleged crime. Who are these people living in legal limbo? why are they still here? The exclusion of refugee status (1F Refugee Convention) and its consequences will be dealt with in this blog.
Read moreWomen’s Rights and the Emergence of a New Wave of Feminism in Ukraine: The FEMEN Movement
In recent years, the actions of FEMEN have been featured in many international media outlets. Originating as a Ukrainian feminist movement in 2008, FEMEN has since acquired an international position, establishing their European headquarters in Paris and expanding their focus on women’s rights violations worldwide. Nowadays the movement’s voice is heard all over the world. The FEMEN movement describes itself as “a founder of a new wave of feminism of the third millennium”. Their goal, like many other feminist activist groups in the past, is undermining the foundations of the male dominated world.
Read moreOpen Season for Whistleblowers? Snowden and the right to privacy
One of the best known whistleblowers at the moment is Edward Snowden. Snowden gave certain selected NSA documents to the Guardian and the Washington Post because “I can’t in good conscience allow the U.S. government to destroy privacy, internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they’re secretly building”.
Read moreGoogle Glasses and Privacy Rights in the Age of Wearable Computing
The Google glass, reality enhancing, wearable computing that allows you to be connected to the net hands free while on the move, is not yet available for consumers. But already privacy right watchdogs ask themselves whether the Google Glass infringes the privacy rights of citizens. Will this gadget entail the end of privacy? Should we be afraid of the lurking abuse and the possibility of a surveillance state?
Read moreA Worldwide Felt Need to End Violence against Women and Girls for Once and for All
Several violent and cruel gang rapes in India and South Africa, and the death of Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot and killed inside the house of her Olympic athlete boyfriend, have brought the issue of violence against women to the public conscience. The tsunami of violence against women has shocked and dismayed people all over the globe and led to public outrage, protests and public debates. How should the Indian criminal justice system be improved? What will it take to end violence against women?
Read moreHomeland, Zero Dark Thirty and Jack Bauer: Rendition, Torture and the Demise of American Values
The latest in a series of Hollywood productions which reopened a debate about torture and extraordinary rendition is Zero Dark Thirty. Real life variations of Hollywood-scenarios have been unfolding as the US government has engaged in a program of extraordinary rendition since the Clinton Administration and which became widespread under the Bush Administration following the September 11 terrorist attacks.This blog examines Obama’s policy towards torture and (extraordinary) rendition.
Read moreState Reform and Multilingualism: The Use of Papiamentu on Bonaire
In 2010, an important State reform took place in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Three little islands, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, too small to become a state in this federal Kingdom, are from October 10, 2010, governed by the Dutch Parliament in The Hague. The legislation introduced for these islands contained some paragraphs on language. The islands have their own home-languages, on Bonaire most of the inhabitants speak Papiamentu, on the other islands English is the common language. In the case of Bonaire a language regulation had to be made, to codify rules on the use of written Papiamentu in government documents.
Read moreThe International Criminal Prosecution Of Gender Crimes
When we first think about wars and armed conflicts, we very often think about battlefields, burned villages, wounded soldiers, air-bombs and tanks. We tend to forget that civilians, women and children in particular, are at the centre of warfare and frequently fall victim to sexual violence in staggering numbers. The international community and the UN Security Council have established that gender crimes are part of the most serious of international crimes and should therefore be of great concern to the international community as a whole. In spite of this, international crimes involving sexual violence continue to be one of the most difficult crimes to prosecute.
This blog will briefly discuss the international criminal prosecution of gender crimes by various international legal institutions.
Read moreThe Fight for the Chagos Islands
In the middle of the Indian Ocean, about halfway between India and Indonesia, some 500 km from the Maldives, lies a remote group of coralline islands called the Chagos Archipelago. This chain of islands consists of seven atolls comprising a total of sixty individual tropical islands. In 1814, the Chagos Islands officially became British territory and were administratively attached to Mauritius.
Read moreGeorge Clooney, the Nuba, and SSP
Searching for the political situation in Sudan and the plight of the Nuba people in particular, Mr Clooney’s name popped up together with SSP. SSP, “a game-changing collaboration, combining commercial satellite imagery, academic analysis, and advocacy to promote human rights in Sudan and South Sudan and serve as an early warning system for impending crisis’ was founded in 2010 on the initiative of George Clooney and John Prendergast.
Read moreSuriname, Amnesty laws & the December Murder Trials
On Friday April 13th 2012, a Surinamese military court was expected to comment on a recently adopted controversial Amnesty bill in the case regarding the December Murders of 1982 in which Desiré Delano (Desi) Bouterse, the current President of the Republic of Suriname, is the prime suspect.
Read morePicture this! The margins of media coverage of celebrities private lives, a balance between privacy and public interest
If you are a public figure and a celebrity, how much privacy can you expect? How far can a journalist probe into a celebrity’s private life to get news in order to fulfill ‘the right to know’ factor for the public interest?
Read more
In recent years the balance between the media’s right to expression and an individual’s right to privacy has always been tricky and has therefore given rise to much debate. This blog will discuss two judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Februari 7th 2012,….“People must be able to look one another in the eye”. Plans of the Dutch Government to ban face-covering clothing.
The Dutch Government chose to ignore the advice of the Council of State concerning the ban on face-covering clothing. The Council of State, the advisory organ of the Government, heavily criticised the legislative proposal. First, the Council of State does not consider the complete ban as necessary and useful. Second, the Council of State is of the opinion that a ban on face covering clothing is an infringement of the freedom of religion.
Read moreDutch MP acquitted : freedom of expression prevails
The Amsterdam Court has cleared Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders of hate charges.
According to the Dutch court his anti-islamic statements always fell within the bounds of legitimate political debate even if they were offensive to many Muslims. The Amsterdam Court found his rhetoric was “on the edge of what is legally permissible.” The statements were directed “against a religion as such and not against individual persons or a group of people.”
Read moreA Licence to Kill? The assassination of Osama Bin Laden: Has the USA gone too far in acting as a policeman or was the raid justified?
Osama Bin Laden (OBL) is dead. He was killed by a special ops team from the United States of America (USA), “after a firefight.” After OBL had been assassinated, the special team of SEALS took the deceased body of the dangerous mastermind terrorist and several hard drives from the compound in Abbottabad. Bin laden had been hiding there with his family for several years without being noticed. When the Pentagon researched the hard drives, it appeared that OBL had been planning new attacks, at least on several US cities and also on European locations. Upon hearing this news so many have sighed with relief that the secret services of the USA found out about these planned attacks before they could actually take place. Obama, President of the USA stated that “justice had been done” by executing OBL. But “what kind of justice” The assassination also led to a lot of questions and criticism: Was the raid justified?
Read moreIs the right to self-determination of the entire population of Libya currently being violated by the Government of Gadhafi?
Is the right to self-determination of peoples applicable to the present revolution – or civil war – in Libya? Can one claim that a State with a dictatorial regime is violating the right to self-determination of its own population?
Read moreEgypt and its Constitution
The 1971 Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt as amended to 2007 contains many articles relevant for the present situation.
Read moreLatin American Amnesty Laws Annulled; the Struggle Against Impunity Continues
Over the last two decades national courts all throughout Latin-America began to vigorously ‘attack’ Amnesty laws in order for investigations on human rights violations from the past to go forward. This Blog will briefly outline the causes that led to to these recent changes in Latin – American legal culture.
Read moreThe Nobel Peace Prize 2010: Liu Xiaobo
Foto scanpize reuters handout The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2010 to Liu Xiaobo for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has long held the view that human rights and peace are closely linked. Human rights are essential for […]
Read moreEuthanasia and Assisted Suicide
If a patient suffers unbearably and when there is no prospect of improvement, some regard the termination of life of the patient as the only option to end the unendurable suffering as quickly as possible.In most countries the practice of euthanasia is illegal. Only in Washington (USA), Oregon (USA), Monatana (USA), The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg, there are laws which permit the practice of euthanasia and assisted suicide under certain circumstances and when specific guidelines are followed. The Netherlands is the first country to legalise the practice of euthanasia. Since 2002 the Dutch Criminal Code of The Netherlands includes grounds for immunity from criminal liability. However, there are strict boundaries.
Read moreReligion and Constitutional Rights
Lately constitutional rights law cases are very much at the centre of public attention in the Netherlands. The cases have a common denominator: religion.
Read moreRoma Rights in the European Union.
In July 2010, The French government decided to begin to expel Roma’s, mainly from Romania and Bulgaria, as many of them were living in France illegally. This decision caused much controversy within the Institutions of the EU. This blog will briefly discuss in what way EU institutions have responded to recent Roma issues and what can be done to improve the position of this marginalized community in Europe.
Read moreUS court rules that US government funding for stem cell research breaks law protecting human embryos
The Obama Administration is in favor of human embryonic stem cell research. Further research alongside other kinds of stem cell experimentation is vital to science and further medical study. It could help us understand the process of cell transformation and how diseases such as diabetes and blindness could be treated. James Sherley, an MIT scientist, and several other scientists however oppose to human embryonic stem cell research. They filed a case against the decision of the Obama administration to federally fund embryonic stem cell use research. The Federal District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the federal funding of stem cell research breaks law protecting human embryos.
Read moreThe Islamic veil, secularism and freedom of religion
“The burqa is a massive attack on the rights of women. It is a mobile prison”, Silvana Koch-Merin stated. Silvana, a German representative of the European Parliament, called for a ban on face-covering veils throughout Europe [1].There are many kinds of islamic veils, such as the niqab, burqa, chador, and khimar (see picture below). The […]
Read moreCan journalists publish whatever they like?
The route of Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771. Source: http://www.wikipedia.org/ In the early morning of Wednesday May 12 2010 Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771, crashed at about 06:10 local time in Tripoli, Libya, near the runway of the airport. The aircraft was shattered to pieces. The airbus (EAD.PA) A330-200 was flying from Johannesburg to Tripoli. Of the […]
Read moreEquality in the Line of Succession
Gender equality legislation is sweeping the world. Constitutions and laws have been recognized by women’s rights activists as important instruments through which decision-making, influence and power are organized and exercised. In a few western countries these changes even touched a very ancient and traditional institution of government which over the centuries has preferably been reserved for males, that is, the institution of monarchy.
Read moreEuropean Court of Human Rights Reform
On Friday, 19 February, at the Ministerial Conference on the future of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Interlaken, Switzerland, the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe issued a joint declaration (Interlaken Declaration [PDF]) on future reforms that should, among others, ease the growing caseload of the Court.
Read moreThe Highs and Lows of the Freedom of Expression and Religion (Part II)
After finding no legal basis for the prosecution of Geert Wilders, leader of the PVV (Party for Freedom), prosecutors were forced to change course in January 2009 after the Amsterdam Appeals Court decreed that charges may (or “should”?) be brought against the politician for inciting hatred, discrimination and the insult of a group.
Read moreHuman Rights Institutions in Indonesia
Addressing past human rights violations in Indonesia has proven to be a complicated and often challenging task. Massive atrocities and large scale human rights violations mostly took place during the 32 year rule of President Suharto and were never properly investigated or prosecuted. This blog will briefly discuss the legal steps that have been undertaken to adress these human rights violations.
Read moreCultural Diversity
On Monday the 17th of August 2009 the Centre for Studies and Research in International Law and International Relations of the Hague Academy of International Law started. The Centre takes place annually at the Academy and Library building of the Peace Palace. The purpose of the Centre is to bring together advanced young scholars of […]
Read moreThe Irish abortion ban case
The European Court of Human Rights ‘Irish abortion ban case’ The European Court of Human Rights has agreed to hear the challenge by three women in Ireland to the Irish government’s ban on abortion in a full hearing before its grand chamber of 17 judges. The three Irish women, represented by the Irish Family Planning […]
Read moreShell Settles Nigerian Claims of Human Rights Violations
On Monday, 8 June Royal Dutch Shell, Europe’s largest oil producer, reached a 15.5 million dollar settlement in a lawsuit brought against it by the families of the nine Nigerian activists who were killed in 1995. The lawsuit, which was brought to a New York court under the US Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA), accused Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary of complicity in the hanging and the killings or persecution of the environmental activists.
Read moreThe Highs and Lows of the Freedom of Expression and Religion
Combating discrimination and all forms of intolerance, as embodied in Article 1 [1] Dutch Constitution and criminally enforced through Article 137c – 137g of the Criminal Code, is a policy spearhead for the Dutch government.
Read moreFaith in Human Rights
On 10 December, International Human Rights Day is celebrated around the world. This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948 by the General Assembly of the United Nations and representing the first step in establishing a comprehensive international framework for the protection of human rights.
Read moreRemembrance Slave Trade and its Abolition
Saturday 23 August marks the UN nineth annual International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.
Read moreEU Declaration on Medellín Execution
On Monday, 11 August, the Council of the European Union (EU) issued a declaration on the execution of Mexican national José Medellín in Texas last week.
Read moreTexas Executes Mexican National in Defiance of ICJ Rulings
Late Tuesday night, 5 August, the State of Texas executed José Ernesto Medellín, despite a call from the UN Secretary-General urging the United States (US) not to go ahead with the execution and to respect the judgements of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Read moreNew UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
On Thursday, 24 June, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of South African Judge Navanethem Pillay as the new UN high commissioner for human rights. The appointment is subject to approval by the General Assembly which will meet on Monday.
Read moreFood Crisis
The global increase in food prices will plunge millions of people into hunger worldwide. Starvation and food shortage already caused food riots and are threatening to destabilize regimes.
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Links
- International Human Rights - Electronic Information System For International Law by The American Society of International Law (ASIL)
- Human Rights Research - 2008
- Icelandic Human Rights Centre: Human Rights Education Project. The Human Rights Education Project provides, in a convenient, accessible form, a comprehensive overview of the main topics and documents relevant to international human rights protection.
- International Human Rights - Electronic Research Guide, by Marci Hoffman
- International Human Rights Research Guide, by Grace M. Mills - 2007
- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Rights (a platform on human rights and democratisation)
- UN Human Rights Council
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Preservation
- Columbia University Libraries’ Human Rights Web Archive. The Human Rights Web Archive is an effort to preserve and ensure access to freely available human rights resources created mainly by non-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions, and individuals.
- The University of Texas Libraries’ Human Rights Documentation Initiative (HRDI). HRDI is committed to the long-term preservation of fragile and vulnerable records of human rights struggles worldwide, the promotion and secure usage of human rights archival materials, and the advancement of human rights research and advocacy around the world.