centre for human rights thesis

Centre for Human Rights

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For more information on the Centre and its activities, please visit www.chr.up.ac.za

The Centre for Human Rights, based at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria is both an academic department and a non-governmental organisation.It works towards human rights education in Africa, a greater awareness of human rights, the wide dissemination of publications on human rights in Africa, and the improvement of the rights of women, people living with HIV, indigenous peoples, sexual minorities and other disadvantaged or marginalised persons or groups across the continent.

The Centre for Human Rights was established in the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in 1986, as part of domestic efforts against the apartheid system of the time. Members of the Centre participated in meetings with the liberation movements outside the borders of South Africa, organised conferences and participated in efforts to promote human rights in South Africa, and, when the transition came, served as technical advisors to both the interim and final constitution writing processes.

The focus of the Centre for Human Rights has now broadened beyond the borders of South Africa. Over the years, it has positioned itself in an unmatched network of practising and academic lawyers, national and international civil servants and human rights practitioners across the continent, with a specific focus on human rights law in Africa, and international development law in general. Today, a wide network of Centre alumni contributes in numerous ways to the advancement and strengthening of human rights and democracy all over the African continent, and even further afield.

In 2006, the Centre for Human Rights was awarded the UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education, with particular recognition for the African Human Rights Moot Court Competition and the LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa.

In 2006, the Centre for Human Rights was awarded the UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education, with particular recognition for the African Human Rights Moot Court Competition and the LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa. In 2012, the Centre for Human Rights was awarded the 2012 African Union Human Rights Prize.

More information is available for prospective students here .

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us .

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Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria

The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) is an internationally recognised university-based institution combining academic excellence and effective activism to advance human rights, particularly in Africa. It aims to contribute to advancing protection and respect for human rights, through education, research and advocacy. Whereas its geographical scope is international, it majorly operates in Africa. CHR works towards a greater awareness of human rights, the wide dissemination of publications on human rights in Africa, and the improvement of the rights of women, people living with HIV, indigenous peoples, sexual minorities and other disadvantaged or marginalised persons or groups across the continent. CHR has been working on several projects, including a program of advanced human rights courses consisting of annual advanced short courses dealing with issues pertinent to human rights, development and good governance in Africa. Some of the courses address critical issues around ESCRs, such as a short course on Business and Human Rights, a course on women’s rights in Africa, and indigenous peoples rights among others.  Also, CHR works very closely with the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights and the Director sits on the Commission’s Working Group on Economic Social and Cultural Rights. CHR has and remains actively involved in the work of UN Human rights treaty bodies and other special mechanisms including, Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises, the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development and the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development. CHR is also one of the founding members of the African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA) and also acts as the host of the ACCA Secretariat, overseeing ACCA‘s daily operations. In partnership with ACCA and the Center of Applied Legal Studies (an ESCR-Net member), CHR has been  actively involved in the process to elaborate a legally binding instrument on business and human rights.

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LL.M thesis topics

On this page you can find an overview of all our LL.M thesis topics or Master theses in English.

Do you want to write your LL.M thesis on a human rights topic? Choose one of these topics and contact the relevant supervisor. Do you want to write a Master thesis in English? First consult the Plato list.

All subjects in the domain of human rights or transitional justice in which the student applies a socio-legal perspective ann integrates a substantial empirical component (qualitative and/or quantitative) to examine the law “in practice”.

Across Europe and around the world, issues of memory and old monuments are being revisited. The shift of historical narratives resulted in the loss of social consensus about the past and interpretation of history. Since monuments are among the most visible expressions of history they have appeared in the middle of contestation and heated debates. […]

This research deals with the impact of prosecution of “minor offences” on people living in poverty in Europe. Through case studies (criminalization of beggars, SyRI case in the Netherlands etc. ), it explores whether minor offences – which are usually punished by outstanding fines with minimum procedural rights – are compatible with the ECHR (more […]

The sovereign debt crisis could have a direct impact on human rights, especially when they are framed within a programme of austerity, and tension between the ‘market justice’ and ‘social justice’ occurs. The aim of the thesis is to study the different human rights legal discourses surrounding the latest cases of sovereign debt restructurings.

Lately, the ‘Facebook Oversight Board’ and other private mechanisms of human rights accountability have been established. The Oversight Board of Facebook was created to review the lawfulness of certain ‘emblematic’ content moderation decisions taken by the social media platform. The Board comprises 20 representatives of civil society, including academics, human rights experts, and journalists. It […]

Regional human rights courts can organize so-called fact-finding missions when confronted with human rights violations. Both the Inter-American and African Court of Human Rights may, if necessary, organize such missions when confronted with cases involving gross and/or large-scale violations of human rights, while the European Court of Human Rights seems to have become rather  reticent […]

Human rights defenders around the world are being killed, especially in Latin-American countries. How is the Inter-American human rights system responding to this cruel reality?

During the past years worldwide human rights defenders are being targeted for doing their job. Such attacks may be of a physical, but also of a psychological nature, and they may target the human rights defenders themselves and/or their families. This study aims to evaluatie what kinds of legal mechanisms exist under international law, i.e. […]

Particular focus on Myanmar/Sri Lanka or Cambodia. Language requirement ENG.

Focus on the Mediterranean or boat pushbacks in Southeast Asia. Language requirement Eng.

Study of the marginalisation of certain regions in the TJ process, looking into the importance of socio-economic rights in ICL. Language requirement ENG.

In 2010 Marie-Benedicte Dembour published an article entitled ‘What are Human Rights? Four Schools of Thought’ in Human Rights Quarterly. Her model posits that we do not all conceive of human rights in the same way, but that there are four main conceptions of human rights. She proposes that those who hold a ‘natural’ view […]

The summer of 2015 saw Europe hit by a refugee crisis – or some commentators say – more accurately a crisis in refugee protection. Marie-Benedicte Dembour asserts in an article forthcoming in Questions of International Law that, due to the relative weakness of its past jurisprudence concerning migrants’ rights, the European Court of Human Rights […]

Judges have to act in an impartial manner while deciding cases. The research will examine the breadth of the right to freedom of expression of judges from a cross-cutting international and regional human rights perspective, with possibly a case study.

Suggested by and with cosupervision from PICUM, the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants. How does the package, comprised of the Council’s Facilitation Directive and the Framework Decision, impact undocumented children and families’ ability to secure adequate housing? This research would (i) look at the EU and national legal framework criminalising landlords renting to […]

For many centuries, citizenship has been regarded as the highest degree of affiliation between an individual and a ‘self-governing’ political community’. However, in the last years, the development of programs around the globe are seeking to attract flows of foreign capital by different incentives, including granting legal membership with society in exchange for diverse types […]

During the past decades social rights have become more prominently part of legal studies. However, most studies deal with substantial violations of social rights. This study takes a procedural turn by looking at the instrument of interim measures awarded by international monitoring bodies, thereby focussing on the different UN Treaty Bodies and regional human rights […]

In present-day society indigenous peoples are one of the most vulnerable groups. This study assesses to what extent such groups can rely on interim measures before international human rights monitoring bodies, both at the UN and regional level and to what extent such measures effectively protect their rights.

Worldwide, but especially in the America’s, women human rights defenders are being targeted. Such attacks may be of a physical, but also of a psychological nature, and they may target the human rights defenders themselves and/or their families. This study aims to evaluatie what legal mechanisms are available in the ambit of the Inter-American Human […]

Could be further narrowed down to a particular focus on the UN, European or Inter-American standards of protection. Language requirement ENG & Spanish.

‘Universal jurisdiction’ is a principle of international law based on the recognition that certain crimes are so horrific that they affect the international community as a whole. Universal jurisdiction is therefore a key component in the fight against impunity. This thesis will analyze specific recent cases (for example, concerning Syria) where the principle of universal […]

Study of development of strategic litigation, the possibilities and limitations of using this approach. Language requirement ENG & Spanish.

Case study of the Tunisian court establised to adjudicate cases related to gross violations of human rights. Language requirement ENG.

This thesis will explore the interaction of the United States with the Inter-American System. In particular, it will analyse the Inter-American approach regarding migrants who are minors.

The research should focus on a legal analysis of Strasburg case law on history, when the Court was asked to rule on the so-called ‘historical situations’ (to bring justice to those accused of war crimes, to protect the rights of mass atrocities victims and their relatives, to deal with Holocaust and genocide deniers, to punish […]

Needless to say, having evidence being declared inadmissible can be devastating to a case. Two cases which ended up before the European Court of Human Rights due to the inadmissibility being contested are Cwik v Poland and R.B. v Estoni. In Cwik, the ECtHR agreed that the tape of the interrogation by a gang of […]

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Carr Center for Human Rights Policy

The Carr Center for Human Rights Policy serves as the hub of the Harvard Kennedy School’s research, teaching, and training in the human rights domain. The center embraces a dual mission: to educate students and the next generation of leaders from around the world in human rights policy and practice; and to convene and provide policy-relevant knowledge to international organizations, governments, policymakers, and businesses.

About the Carr Center

Since its founding in 1999, the Carr Center has dedicated the last quarter-century to human rights policy.  

August 27, 2024 Become a Student Ambassador at the Carr Center

August 01, 2024 Announcing the Carr Center’s 2024–2025 Carr and Racial Justice Fellowship Cohorts Carr Center for Human Rights Policy

July 15, 2024 Announcing the Carr Center’s 2024–2025 “Surveillance Capitalism or Democracy” Fellowship Cohort Carr Center for Human Rights Policy

June 10, 2024 Celebrating Pride Month Carr Center for Human Rights Policy

September 05, 2024 Carr Center Annual Report 2023-24 Carr Center for Human Rights Policy

August 27, 2024 Algorithmic Discrimination in Latin American Welfare States Sebastian Smart

April 10, 2024 Global Anti-Blackness and the Legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Carr Center for Human Rights Policy

April 18, 2024 Fostering Business Respect for Human Rights in AI Governance and Beyond

Moral Universalism and Human Rights as Politics

Michael Ignatieff discusses the state of human rights in the world today, moral universalism, and American exceptionalism.

A New Theory of Systemic Police Terrorism

Charity Clay discusses the importance of Black spaces and place-making and her theory on systemic police terrorism.

See All Justice Matters Episodes

View and listen to all of the  Justice Matters  podcast episodes in one place.

Dismantling the Global Anti-LGBTQI Movement

Kristopher Velasco, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Princeton University, discusses the dangers of the global anti-LGBTQI movement.

Racial Justice Without Borders

Desirée Cormier Smith, Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice for the U.S. State Department, discusses combatting worldwide structural racism, discrimination, and xenophobia. 

The Importance of Inclusivity in Business

Jessica Yamoah, CEO and Founder of Innovate Inc., discusses why diversity and inclusion matters at the intersection of business, entrepreneurship, and technology.

Poetry as a Means of Defending Human Rights in Uganda

Danson Kahyana discusses the current political situation and the backlash he has faced in response to his work in Uganda. 

Reversing the Global Backlash Against LGBTQI+ Rights

Diego Garcia Blum discusses advocating for the safety and acceptance of LGBTQI+ individuals, as well as the state of anti-LGBTQI+ legislation across the globe.

Reflections on Decades of the Racial Justice Movement

Gay McDougall discusses her decades of work on the frontlines of race, gender, and economic exploitation. 

“The Carr Center is building a bridge between ideas on human rights and the practice on the ground—and right now we're at a critical juncture around the world.”

Mathias risse, faculty director.

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Maastricht Centre for Human Rights

The Maastricht Centre for Human Rights brings together researchers with different disciplinary backgrounds from law and other academic fields, to conduct cutting edge human rights research. The Centre focuses on research themes that contribute to a fair and equitable society, and that raise fundamental questions about human rights. Human rights research carried out within the Centre takes a normative approach, reflecting an integrated view of both economic, social and cultural rights, as well as civil and political rights. Research conducted by Centre members incorporates doctrinal and applied methodologies, and is sometimes interdisciplinary in nature. The main focus of the Centre’s research lies in the legal field (including public international law and criminal law), but this research is combined with research from the social sciences (including criminology, political science, international relations) and at times philosophy and history (the humanities). 

• established in 1993 by prof. Theo van Boven, former director of UN Division for Human Rights, and prof. Cees Flinterman
• co-directed by Prof. Dr. Andrea Broderick and Dr. Roland Moerland
• focus on public international law, (international) criminal law, criminology, and social sciences
• collaboration with (inter)national researchers, stakeholders and civil society organisations
• standard setting through a set of guidelines and principles developed at the Maastricht Centre for Human Rights, with relevant stakeholders

Regional human rights systems and comparative human rights law

The members of the Maastricht Centre for Human Rights share a strong interest in comparative research and the examination of human rights issues arising in domestic, regional and international legal systems. This interest is reflected in the Centre’s research, which explores the intersections between jurisprudential developments emerging from various national and supranational courts as well as bodies involved in interpreting and implementing human rights norms.  

Human rights, non-discrimination and inclusion

The theme ‘’human rights, non-discrimination and inclusion’’ brings together research on groups or individuals suffering from unjustifiable differential treatment and ingrained patterns of discrimination in society. Members investigate how legal rules and instruments can be used to address political, economic, criminal, environmental and social challenges by promoting equality and inclusion in society. Some of the research under this theme also tends to be comparative in nature, focusing on the integration and interaction between different legal orders operating at the national, supranational (European Union) and international levels.  

Human rights, conflict and transitional justice

The perpetration of international crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression usually cause extensive harm to individuals, communities and societies more broadly.  Such crimes have occurred in different parts of the world since time immemorial, and they are likely to reoccur. Therefore, research on the relations and interplay between human rights, conflict and transitional justice (i.e., the full range of processes and mechanisms associated with society’s attempts to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past abuses) is crucial to achieving accountability, promoting reconciliation and preventing future harm.

  Visit MCfHR's research

MCfHR’s research mainly takes place in the following Faculty research pillar:

1.  Global Justice

Let's talk human rights

Human rights issues affect us all. But sometimes there can be an unfortunate disconnect between the human rights research that goes on in universities, and the rest of the world. Let’s Talk Human Rights is a video and podcast series which aims to bridge that gap. We interview human rights experts at one of the primary hubs of human rights research in the Netherlands, the Maastricht Centre for Human Rights, in order to open a window to show what is actually happening in human rights research today. We discuss pressing issues, from human rights and social media to the rights of disabled persons.

We also talk to the researchers about themselves, their projects, and their research journey. Focusing mainly on early career researchers, we cast a light not only on human rights law and how it works, but also on what it means to be a human rights researcher. ​

  Read more about our Let's Talk Human Rights initiative

You can find our episodes on

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EmergEU: Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence

Professor Andrea Ott successfully applied for a a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Crises and Emergencies in EU Integration (EmergEU) in July 2024. In the upcoming three years, the centre will explore crises and emergencies in EU integration. 

Enhancing marine protection: The role of Prevention in addressing pollution from land-based sources starting from the European regional experience

PhD thesis written by Francesco Maletto This research examined whether the legal framework currently governing this kind of marine pollution is adequate and effective in addressing the issue.

Lilian Tsourdi Receives ERC Starting Grant

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded Lilian Tsourdi, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, a prestigious ERC Starting Grant for her project SoftEn (Soft Enforcement of EU Migration Law). 

NWO fund for ‘Am AI Right?’

‘Am AI Right?’, a research project created by an interdisciplinary team of researchers of the  Law and Tech Lab and the Brightlands Institute for Smart Society ( BISS ), aims to revolutionize access to legal expertise.

Home detention: Professor Jacques Claessen experiences it himself

‘Practice what you preach’. This is the motto that led endowed professor of restorative justice and associate professor of criminal law and criminal procedure, Jacques Claessen, to voluntarily wear an electronic ankle bracelet. 

The EU’s race to the bottom on asylum seekers’ rights

Throughout the EU, the rights of asylum seekers come under pressure. Overdue policy changes remain stuck in negotiations because of lacking political will. It is up to the European Commission to step up and protect the fundamental rights of asylum seekers.

How do the Dutch deal with their colonial past?

The debate on the implications of Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia recently intensified after a report concluded that the Dutch forces had used extreme violence. Reactions to the report reveal that the issue remains controversial and challenging to discuss. The findings in the report do however...

• C.A.R. Moerland

Hurbain v. Belgium: towards a fairer balancing exercise between the right to freedom of expression and the right to privacy?

Admittedly, the right to erasure, or more colloquially, the right to be forgotten is nothing new in the European legal landscape. Indeed, this right can be found as far back as 1981 in the  predecessor  of the  Modernised Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing ...

How many times can the ECtHR turn its head

Thank God for Judge  Egidijus Kūris . In ECtHR ruling  Ahmet Hüsrev Altan v. Turkey  of 13 April, he showed that decontextualized analysis is not inherent to supranational judicial review.  Once again  saucing up his dissent with Bob Dylan, he asked “how many times can [the ECtHR] turn [its] head and...

Part II: time for the Commission to act - Let us not forget about EU fundamental rights

About a year ago, this blog published my contribution “ Let us not forget about EU fundamental rights ,” which addressed the situation at the EU’s external borders. At the time, the decision of the ECtHR in the case of N.D and N.T v. Spain, was heavily criticised for failing to protect the right to...

• E.S. Börjedal

Maastricht Centre for Human Rights​ introduction

This short introduction tells about the interdisciplinary character of the centre for human rights​.

Maastricht Centre for Human Rights past events

• Human Rights beyond borders conference

The etoconsortium.org , together with MCfHR and FIAN International organized a conference in September 2017. The meeting brought together 45 academics, representatives of human rights NGOs, civil society organisations and human rights practitioners. They analysed the human rights beyond border dimensions of issues in policy fields such as debt and austerity; climate and ecology; financial capture and land grabbing, the regulation of transnational corporations; investment and trade.

• 30 years Limburg principles and migrationy

Conference ESC rights and migration.   In June 1986 a group of distinguished experts in int. (human rights) law convened in Maastricht, to deliberate the nature and scope of state parties’ obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). This meeting resulted in the agreement and adoption of the so-called Limburg Principles. In light of the 30 th anniversary of these, MCfHR organised a conference in December 2016, in the area of ESC rights and migration.    More information on the ESC conference

• Theo van Boven lecture 2016

Each year, the Maastricht Centre for Human Rights organises a lecture to honour one of the centre's co-founders and former Director of the United Nations Division of Human Rights (1977-1982) Theo van Boven. This year's lecture was combined with the conference (1-2 December 2016) to celebrate the 30 th anniversary of the Limburg Principles. Prof. Philip Alston delivered a keynote speech on 1 st December '16.    More information on the lecture

Read about the Maastricht Centre for Human Rights past key events:

The Subversiv es

Documentary about the life of one of the most important advocates of human rights. Theo van Boven, a former Director of the United Nations Division of Human Rights (1977-1982), was among the first to defend international human rights responsibilities with courage and openness. He came face-to-face with some of the most repressive regimes of the 20th century. This documentary details the dramatic journey of Theo van Boven and his team, and their struggle to bring justice and change to the UN.

Video: Trailer for The Subversives , a documentary about van Theo van Boven's time at the UN.

5 Universities Where You Can Download Human Rights Theses for Free

Most university students are accustomed to finding research at their own university library, either online or physically hunting out research papers. Although many universities have a wealth of research available for their students, it is also well worth your time to expand your search to other universities which allow you to download research papers online. By expanding your research to other universities, you will be able to include a wider range of ideas in your own thesis. Furthermore, the breadth of human rights as an area of study requires very in-depth research which can be enhanced by studying theses from different universities. Here are a few universities which allow you to download whole theses for free.

University of Oxford, the United Kingdom

The University of Oxford is one of the top universities in the UK. The university has published substantial research as part of Oxford University Press, the largest university press in the world, since 1586. Oxford offers masters programmes in International Human Rights Law from a faculty which is comprised of internationally recognised human rights scholars and advocates. Needless to say, the research papers that are published are often of excellent quality and you can download many of them for free. Simply search for Oxford University Research Archive and from there you will be able to enter the topic of the research paper, such as Human Rights , and select Thesis under Item Type on the left-hand menu of the screen.

Do you want to pursue a career in human rights?

Our eBook “ Launching Your Career in Human Rights ” is an in-depth resource designed for those committed to pursuing a career in the human rights field. It covers a wide range of topics, including the types of careers available, the necessary skills and competencies, and the educational pathways that can lead to success in this sector. Whether you’re considering a master’s degree, looking for your first job, or exploring specific human rights issues, this guide offers valuable insights and practical advice. It’s a helpful tool for anyone looking to understand the complexities of working in human rights and how to effectively navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with this important work. Learn more .

From here you will be able to download any paper that is marked with an open, green padlock. The papers with closed, red padlocks are currently under embargo and will ask you to request access. There is a varied selection of human rights papers that you can download instantly, and for free, including papers on women’s rights and globalisation of universal human rights in the Middle East. You can further refine your search by adding more filters in the left-hand menu which makes finding relevant theses quick and simple.

Yale University, the United States of America

This Ivy League University in Connecticut is globally recognized for both its university and law school and possesses the third largest academic library in the USA. For this reason, you can also find a lot of research online using their database EliScholar . Some items require login details for access, but many of the papers are available to download for free. Type human rights in the search bar and refine your search by adding specifications such as Theses/Dissertation which you can find under Publication Type on the left-hand search menu. You can also further refine your search based on Discipline and Keywords . Here you will find papers related to human rights such as women’s participation and the health of the community in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Yale university offers an undergraduate programme in human rights which is heavily career focused, connecting students with faculty peers who can support them with internship opportunities. The programme adopts a multidisciplinary approach including areas such as anthropology, area studies, law, literature, philosophy and political science, covering a range of aspects necessary for the study of global human rights. The human rights programme recognises the complexity and diversity of this area of study and, subsequently, produces world class research which you can access for free.

University College London, the United Kingdom

Ranking 10 th in the UK according to The Guardian University league tables for 2019 , University College London is another reputable source of human rights theses. The institute of human rights at UCL is multidisciplinary and promotes cutting edge research. They focus on interpretation and application of human rights both internationally and domestically contributing to UCL’s role as a global university.

Search for UCL discovery , enter Human Rights in the search menu and refine your search by selecting thesis under Type. The texts with an open green padlock are available to download for free. Here you will find full doctoral theses for example ‘ Should international human rights law be extended to apply to multinational corporations and other business entities?’ by Sabina Anne Espinoza. A doctoral thesis would provide a lot more information, compared to an undergraduate or master’s thesis, as most are around 200 pages long. You can also select Detailed Search from the left-hand menu to add specific details about the type of paper you are looking for and from here you can select Full text available in order to see only the papers that you can download for free.

University of Vienna (Universität Wien), Austria

The University of Vienna or Universität Wien also has an impressive database of theses available to download for free. You can access the database by searching for Universität Wien E-theses and selecting Search Repository . Here you can use the advanced search options to specify your topic.

This university offers a masters in Human Rights programme which accepts students from different personal and professional backgrounds allowing students to develop an international network which will be essential in future careers. The faculty is made up of human rights practitioners who have experience working in the field meaning research papers are based on real life knowledge. The programme also offers field experience in the post conflict situation in Kosovo as well as internship and research placements. Thus, the research papers produced by this faculty are of high quality as well as being easily accessible.

University of Toronto, Canada

Another very inclusive database has been created by the University of Toronto, which is ranked 21 st in the world according to The Times World University Rankings for 2019 . Search for the University of Toronto Tspace and from this page you can search for faculty and student research. Within the faculty of law, this University offers an International Human Rights programme. Since 1988, they have placed over 145 law students in internships in countries around the world. Students taking part in these internships have the opportunity to work with governmental and non-governmental organisations, which provides vital experience in the field of human rights.

This career focused programme has subsequently produced some thoroughly detailed papers such as ‘Recognizing a sustainable relationship between International Human Rights and International Trade Law in a pursuit to have human rights taken more seriously: A case study of the People’s Republic of China and the WTO’ by Jessica Crystal Antoine. This is one of the many papers you can access for free on Tspace by selecting the paper and clicking Download Thesis from the menu entitled Files on the right-hand side of the screen.

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About the author, human rights careers.

Human Rights Careers (HRC) provides information about online courses, jobs, paid internships, masters degrees, scholarships and other opportunities in the human rights sector and related areas.

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Doctoral studies at CAHR

After studying the MA in Applied Human Rights, I was keen to continue in the Centre's PhD programme. The fieldwork experience I gained during the MA visit to Cape Town inspired my PhD's exploration of transitional justice, masculinities and male victimisation. Additionally, it gave me a head-start on the PhD by facilitating links with a network of practitioners. Lucy Harding, MA Student 2009/10; PhD awarded 2015

The Centre has an active research agenda and a growing number of PhD students. We are happy to entertain applications for doctoral studies on a wide range of topics in human rights, particularly on:

• human rights defenders
• human rights practice 
• human rights and development
• legal empowerment
• refugee law and policy
• responsibility to protect
• transitional justice

We particularly encourage applications from individuals with practical experience relating to the topic of their research. In keeping with the international nature of the Centre and its staff, we welcome applications from individuals from around the world. For current supervised topics, please see current PhD student profiles .

Research environment

The Centre, both independently and through its affiliations with the Department of Politics and International Relations and the York Law School , has an active programme of research and seeks to develop research communities on the topics noted above, including for example the inter-departmental Development and Conflict Working Group and York Law School’s Socio-Legal Research group. We regularly programme lectures, workshops and conferences on various human rights issues; we also host the Journal of Human Rights Practice (published by OUP). We view our doctoral students as key participants in the research activities of the Centre and the wider university and practitioner communities in which the Centre locates itself, including the Centre’s visiting human rights defenders . We would expect all of our doctoral students to actively contribute to the research environment of the Centre.

Supervision

For an indication of the range of potential areas of doctoral supervision available please see the research and staff  pages of the Centre. For specific advice on applying and the possibility of supervision please contact the member of academic staff by which you would like to be supervised. Co-supervision is also available with academic staff in other departments and at other research centres.

Programme of study

Having decided to write my MA dissertation on land reform and the right to housing, I chose to pursue my research further by undertaking PhD study, with the rights of landless people in South Africa as the main case study. My supervisor has been very supportive in focusing my topic and in giving advice on the research process. Matthew Evans, MA Student 2009/10; PhD awarded 2013

In their first year of study, doctoral students will receive formal training in research methods conducted in conjunction with the Department of Politics and International Relations and the the York Law School. The training includes regular sessions during term on theory, ethics and methodology. In addition, doctoral students are invited to attend faculty research seminars and other academic events on campus.

The PhD programme does not include any formal course-work. Doctoral students are eligible to audit (or to formally enrol in) any of the postgraduate courses offered by the Centre as part of its MA in Applied Human Rights or its LLM in International Human Rights Law and Practice . Arrangements can also be made with other departments to audit (or enrol in) additional courses.

Progress, Dissertation and Examination

All PhD students are subject to formal reviews of progress. These formal reviews of progress take place at the end of the first year and at the end of the second year (or part-time equivalent). 

Students meet regularly with their supervisor and attend a Thesis Advisory Panel twice a year. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the student's progress, in particular with a view to ensuring that the student's thesis is completed on time.

After completing and submitting their thesis, the student must attend an oral examination. There are usually two examiners, at least one external to the University (in most cases a member of the academic staff of another higher education institution in the UK). If there is an internal examiner, he or she is normally a member of the academic staff of the University other than the candidate’s supervisor.

Full-time PhD students are expected to have completed and submitted their dissertation within 3 years of commencing studies. This deadline is extended to 6 years in the case of part-time students.

The Centre’s staff has consistently made time to talk with me about my work -- as well as any other concerns that arise. My supervisor has been fantastic. He helped me secure full funding for my PhD. He has also provided both academic opportunities and the chance to engage with, and contribute to, human rights practice. Lucy Harding, MA Student 2009/10; PhD awarded 2015

Only students who have applied to and have been accepted into the programme are eligible for consideration for financial assistance. Financial assistance is available both from the university and from external funders. Some opportunities for part-time employment as tutors or lecturers may also be available. We are happy to discuss potential scholarships and other assistance with individuals after an offer of admission has been made. Please be mindful that many scholarships have early application deadlines.

In recent years, the Centre has successfully nominated and advocated on behalf of prospective students for competitively awarded university and ESRC scholarship funding. This funding, in the case of UK students, can cover tuition and provide a basic stipend. Funding for international students through these routes is more limited and generally only covers a relatively small portion of their expenses (usually some of the tuition). In all cases, students seeking funding should apply early in the academic year. Most university and ESRC funding decisions are made by April so in order to be considered a complete application is recommended by the end of January. We are happy to support applications for external funding by prospective students, for example by providing letters of support for this purpose.

WRoCAH studentships  The White Rose College of the Arts & Humanities (WRoCAH) is a Doctoral Training Partnership of the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York. It is responsible for the distribution of AHRC-funded studentships for these universities and for the coordination of a doctoral training programme.  WRoCAH is able to offer over 50 AHRC studentships per year to candidates with a place for doctoral study at the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield or York. Applicants for an AHRC studentship must have applied for a place of study in an eligible School, Department or Centre and may only apply for funding at one of Leeds, Sheffield or York. The studentship application form and details of how to apply are only available from the WRoCAH website .

Applications and Further Information

We are happy to discuss your interest in doctoral studies with you. Please feel free to contact any of the staff of the Centre, particularly the person(s) who you would be interested in as a supervisor. 

Find out more Current PhD students PhD Alumni Draft dissertation proposal (PDF , 153kb)

After having worked for several years in the protection of refugees and migrants with both NGOs and the UN, I had a desire to reflect and look more deeply into some of the issues encountered on the ground. The CAHR offered me the opportunity to conduct innovative and ethical academic research that considers above all the practical outcome for the people it aims to reach. I am particularly grateful for the support I receive from my supervisors regarding my interdisciplinary approach and the choice to apply a drama-based methodology in working with unaccompanied migrant children in South Africa. Lena Opfermann, PhD student

Centre for Applied Human Rights 6 Innovation Close , University of York , Heslington , York , YO10 5ZF , UK Tel: work +44 (0)1904 325830 | [email protected]

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The Centre for Fundamental Rights announces the winners of the Hertie School Human Rights Master’s Thesis Award 2024

Zoe Sigman (MPP 2024) is awarded the Human Rights Master’s Thesis Award 2024; Kasyoka P. Mutunga (MIA 2024) receives an honourable mention

Nine theses focusing on the role of human rights in domestic, regional, or global law and governance, submitted as part of the MIA, MPP, MDS, or EMPA programmes, were nominated for the 2024 award. These were evaluated by the Selection Committee in August 2024.

The committee, comprising researchers from the Centre for Fundamental Rights not involved in supervising any of the theses, selected Zoe Sigman (MPP 2024) as the recipient of the Human Rights Thesis Award 2024 for her dissertation titled "Migrant Deaths on the United States-Mexico Border, 2014-2017. A Multiple Systems Estimation Approach," in which she collaborated with the International Organization of Migration’s Missing Migrants Project.

The committee was highly impressed by Sigman’s thesis, which investigates how state policies contribute to migrant mortality and analyses data from four independent organisations to account for the true number of migrant deaths along the US-Mexico border. Sigman clearly problematises the reporting issues of the United States in accounting for such deaths. By applying a novel and innovative statistical approach, she finds that official sources significantly undercount deaths along the border, estimating the true number of deaths to be 35-61% higher than previously reported figures.  In its consideration the committee noted that the thesis is of exceptional quality and makes an excellent contribution to human rights scholarship, both on a substantive and methodological dimension, by demonstrating how forensic data infrastructure can be used to highlight the terrible human costs of border policies.  Sigman’s work thus does not only speak to an urgent and pressing human rights problem but also examines it from a highly interdisciplinary perspective, combining statistical inference with a deep understanding of migration law and policy. She concludes with a range of concrete policy proposals that can be used to improve data collection and standardisation in migration as well as to create better governmental border enforcement policies to prevent migrant deaths.

The Committee also awarded an honourable mention to Kasyoka P. Mutunga (MIA 2024) for her thesis “The International Monetary Fund’s Conditionality Regime: A Cautionary Tale on the Pitfalls of Human Rights Mainstreaming”. She comprehensively investigates whether the IMF’s new strategy aimed at centring human rights concerns leads to changes in its lending regime. Her thesis is focused on a deep single case study of the IMF’s conditionality measures vis-à-vis Kenya from 1988 to today. Her detailed work demonstrates the absence of any substantial impact of the respective human rights strategy on lending, offering a highly critical analyses of the potentials and limitations of human rights mainstreaming in financial institutions.

The award winners were announced during the “Meet the Centre” event, hosted by the Centre for Fundamental Rights on 12 September 2024.

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Course Overview

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The LLM in International Human Rights Law provides students with a comprehensive insight into international and regional legal frameworks of human rights protection.  This is an interdisciplinary programme where students are engaged students in the practice and public policy context of human rights law on a local, national and international perspective. 

This LLM will be of interest to students and practitioners from a range of different fields such as law, social policy, political science, public administration and development.  While the programme’s emphasis is on the law and policy of human rights, suitably qualified candidates from non-law backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Students participate in a dynamic programme of seminars, workshops and conferences with world-leading practitioners and scholars. Coursework begins with an in-depth study of the international human rights system and selected issues of international human rights law. Specialised courses in business and human rights, international migration law, refugee protection, international humanitarian law, international criminal law, minority rights and rights of indigenous peoples, gender and human rights, counter-terrorism and human rights, and child rights. Completing a 15,000-word research thesis in the field of international human rights law is also a requirement. A wide range of subject choices is available to students, drawing on the expertise of our full time staff and prestigious adjunct faculty.

  Course highlights:

• The Irish Centre for Human Rights is one of the world’s premier university-based institutions for the study and promotion of human rights.  
• Global Legal Action Network ( GLAN ) and the Irish Centre for Human Rights have established a partnership which affords selected students the opportunity for hands-on engagement with human rights litigation and advocacy globally. 
• An International Human Rights Law Clinic provides students with unique practical training on mobilising human rights standards to secure reform, engaging human rights bodies, at UN and regional levels.
• Field trips to the International Criminal Court in The Hague and to military barracks of the Irish Defence Forces .
• Career Support with assistance in seeking career and work placement opportunities by drawing on the expertise of a global network of alumni and an outstanding network of contacts.
• Expert Lecturers deliver programme modules. Our academics are internationally recognised human rights scholars with world-class expertise and reputations. 
• Unique programme focusing on the practice of human rights through specialised modules including international human rights, public policy, law and advocacy.    
• Skills development through a strong clinical focus on core human rights lawyering in advocacy, strategic litigation, human rights fact-finding, international diplomacy and public policy.
• Seminars, conferences and workshops ensures engagement with world-leading practitioners and scholars in the field of human rights law and public policy.
• Assessment is primarily through research papers, presentations and minor thesis rather than exams.‌

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the University of Galway  Postgraduate Applications System . 

Who Teaches this Course

Professor Siobhán Mullally

Professor Ray Murphy

Professor Shane Darcy

Dr Ciara Smyth

Professor Emeritus William Schabas

Dr Ekaterina Yahyaoui Krivenko 

Dr Anita Ferrara

‌‌ Dr Maeve O'Rourke

Dr Edel Hughes

Professor Roja Fazaeli

Professor Anna Arstein-Kerslake

Dr Roisin Mulgrew 

Dr Illan Wall

Dr Rory Kelly

In addition, every year we have a number of courses taught by adjunct and visiting lecturers.

Requirements and Assessment

Assessment for individual modules includes a combination of essays, presentations and group work, as well as other methods. Students must also complete a research thesis/dissertation of 20,000 words.

Entry Requirements

• The Irish Centre for Human Rights welcomes students with a Level 8 (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in a range of disciplines including law, political science, social sciences and humanities.
• In cases where applicants come from a non-law background, the Irish Centre for Human Rights will consider academic background, relevant work experience, references and a personal statement.
• Applicants must normally have attained at primary degree level a result of Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2.1) or equivalent. However, those falling short of this standard may be considered where they can demonstrate other appropriate academic accomplishments as well as relevant work experience.
• International students should refer to the country-specific information section of the International Office website .

Additional Requirements

Recognition of prior learning (rpl).

Applicants must normally have attained at primary degree level a result of Second-Class Honours Grade 1 (2.1) or equivalent. However, those falling short of this standard may be considered where they can demonstrate other appropriate academic accomplishments as well as relevant work experience.

1 year, full-time; 2 years, part-time

Next start date

September 2024

A Level Grades ()

Average intake, qqi/fet fetac entry routes, closing date.

Please view the  offer rounds website.

Mode of study

Ects weighting, course code.

The one-year programme is divided into three four-month terms. The first term commences in September and runs through to December, the second term begins in January and ends in April, while the third term begins in May and terminates with the submission of a dissertation at the end of August. During the first two terms candidates are required to attend a full course load as prescribed in the Guidelines, while the third term is devoted entirely to the research required for the preparation of the final dissertation.  The two-year programme comprises part-time study, combining two semesters of course work the first year with a third semester the second year, devoted entirely to the research required for preparation of a final dissertation.    The coursework begins with a general introduction to the systems and documents of international human rights law, and proceeds to a series of specialised courses in such areas as minority rights law, regional human rights systems such as the European Convention on Human Rights, criminal prosecution by international tribunals of human rights violators, gender and child rights, refugees and asylum seekers, and international humanitarian law. The course emphasises the analysis and critique of international human rights law and legal regimes.

The 90 ECTS programme consists of:

Compulsory modules 10 ECTS + Elective Modules 50 ECTS + Disseration 30 ECTS

Course and module offerings and details are subject to change. Below are the list of modules being offered during the academic year 2024/2025. View descriptions of each module here or click on ‘Year 1 (90 credits)’ below to view module information.

­­Core module (10 ECTS)

• International Human Rights Law (10 ECTS)

Elective Modules (Students choose 50 ECTS from a wide range of subject choices)

• Public International Law (10 ECTS)  
• International Criminal Law (10 ECTS)
• International Humanitarian Law (10 ECTS)
• Contemporary Issues in International Migration Law (10 ECTS)
• European Migration Law (5 ECTS)  
• Peace Support Operations (10 ECTS)
• European Convention on Human Rights: Law and Politics (10 ECTS)
• Gender and Human Rights (10 ECTS)
• Business and Human Rights 2 (10 ECTS)
• International Refugee Law (10 ECTS)
• Human Rights Law Clinic (10 ECTS)
• Climate Justice (5 ECTS)
• The Common European Asylum System (5 ECTS)  
• Transitional Justice (5 ECTS)
• Procedure before International Criminal Courts (5 ECTS)
• Counter Terrorism and Human Rights (5 ECTS)
• Critical Race Theory and Human Rights (5 ECTS)  
• Transnational Lawyering (5 ECTS)
• International Child Rights (5 ECTS)
• Foundational Theoretical Framework in Disability Law and Policy (10 ECTS)
• Legal Capacity Law and Policy (10 ECTS)
• International Disability Human Rights Clinic (10 ECTS)
• Advocacy and Access to Justice (10 ECTS)
• Inclusive Education Law and Policy (10 ECTS)
• Mental Health Law and Policy (10 ECTS)
• Policing, Security and Rights (10 ECTS)
• Minors, Minority Groups & the Criminal Justice System (10 ECTS)
• Sentencing and Penal Law Policy (10 ECTS)
• Imprisonment and Rights (10 ECTS)

As part of the elective 50 ECTS, s tudents may take up to 10 ECTS from the LLM General and LLM International and Comparative Business Law.  

Dissertation (30 ECTS)

Module details for the Full-Time course

Module details for the part-time course, curriculum information, glossary of terms, year 1 (90 credits), career opportunities.

The programme equips students to pursue careers with international organisations, United Nations (UN) bodies, international NGOs, in international or national legal practice, and policy, advocacy or research work.  Students may also decide to work in government, diplomacy or international affairs. The programme will also provide a foundation for further studies through the structured PhD in human rights offered by the Irish Centre for Human Rights.

Students who have undertaken and successfully completed the programme tend to fall into one of four categories:

• those who work within UN or UN affiliated organisations
• those who work in NGOs and quasi NGOs—both human rights and development
• those who work in academic institutions or pursue of PhD/JD
• those who work in diplomatic or government based work (in human rights divisions of the Department of Foreign Affairs, for example).  

Underneath these umbrella categories, students have pursued work in the ICC, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, ICRC, the UN system (Geneva and NYC), local based NGOs, trade and health organisations, domestic law firm work that draws on international legal mechanisms, and research based work in University research centres, to name but a few. The main and sub categories are by no means exhaustive, but give a flavor of the different fields that students have pursued.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning outcomes, transferable skills employers value, work placement, related student organisations, fees: tuition, fees: student levy, fees: non eu.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant—please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2023/24).  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  An F5 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Postgraduate fee breakdown = Tuition (EU or NON EU) + Student levy as outlined above.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa  here .

Find out More

Professor Siobhán Mullally Programme Director E:   [email protected]

Queries about this and other LLM programmes in the School of Law can also be directed to  [email protected] .

What Our Students Say

Yassin Osman |   Programme Lawyer at IBAHRI

I am currently acting as Programme Lawyer for the Africa and Middle East Regions at the International Bar Association’s Human Rights (IBAHRI). After completing my master’s degree in International Human Rights Law at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway, in 2020, I pursued different prospects, including working as a fact-check writer at Misbar, and interning at the UN OHCHR for Southern Africa and at the IBAHRI, before formally joining the team in London. Since then, I have had amazing learning opportunities such as field missions to Cameroon and Tunisia and working with states, special rapporteurs, international experts, and other lawyers, which has helped me grow tremendously. Studying at the ICHR married my theoretical knowledge of the law and personal experiences growing up in South Africa and Sudan, with practical and grounded approaches that are applied in my everyday work. It also made me realise that human rights issues do not exist in isolation and necessitate critical thinking that considers histories and different perspectives in order to truly and accurately reflect the best path forward in manifesting a better world.

Cassie Roddy-Mullineaux |   Data Rights Solicitor, AWO Agency

I completed the BA and LLB at University of Galway and trained as a solicitor before returning to University of Galway to study the LLM in International Human Rights. Completing the LLM in International Human Rights completely changed my outlook on legal practice and how I wanted to contribute as a lawyer. Through the Irish Centre for Human Rights partnership with Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), I secured a legal research placement working on business-related human rights abuses. I also had the opportunity to participate in the Human Rights Law Clinic module where I worked on the ‘My Data Rights’ project, an online resource to help survivors of historical and institutional abuses in Ireland use the GDPR to access their personal data. I'm extremely grateful to the Irish Centre for Human Rights and University of Galway School of Law for the generous support of the staff and community who afforded me so many opportunities during the LLM and have truly helped to shape my legal career. The knowledge and skills I gained in the LLM no doubt helped me to secure my current role as a Data Rights Lawyer at AWO, where I advise clients on a wide range of data and privacy issues.

Rowan Hickie |   Project Coordinator at GlobalChild

During my LLM in International Human Rights, I had the opportunity to learn from incredible professors at the Irish Centre for Human Rights while also exploring various areas of international human rights law. Through the program, I discovered my passion for children's rights which has shaped the trajectory of my career. After finishing my LLM in 2021, I returned home to Canada. I quickly found work as a researcher for the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre, where I conducted research on both Canadian and international human rights law. While working at the Centre, I also volunteered with the international children's rights organization GlobalChild on their InspiRights project. After volunteering with GlobalChild for 6 months, I applied for and secured a Project Coordinator position with the organization. In this new role, I will be responsible for coordinating the InspiRights project and preparing academic research papers with the organization's Director. My LLM degree has been instrumental in my career, providing me with a strong foundation of skills and a wide network of peers. I am excited to use the skills I learned during my LLM throughout my career.

Ritika Pillai |    

I chose to study at the Irish Centre for Human Rights particularly because of the wide range of different subjects that they offered for the course, which I did not find in most other universities. The one to one interaction with the professors helped me understand the subject very well. All the students and the staff have been very welcoming and the multicultural nature of the class makes for very interesting discussions. Overall, my study at the Centre has made me feel a lot more confident in my future career in the field of human rights.

Priscia is from Malawi and graduated from University of Galway in 2021. She studied for an LLM in International Human Rights) and now works as a Human Rights Lawyer.

Postgraduate Prospectus 2024 PDF (3.3MB)

Business Postgraduate Programmes 2024 PDF (4.7 MB)

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Amsterdam Centre for Migration and Refugee Law

Two phd positions in migration and human rights law.

Are you interested in the human rights of migrants, and would you like to work in a vibrant team of scholars forming one of the largest migration law research groups in Europe? Please apply at the Amsterdam Centre for Migration and Refugee Law at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Location: Amsterdam FTE: 1

Job description You will study the ambivalent role of the European Court of Human Rights as an actor and forum for the human rights turn in legal discourses on migration. Your research will be part of the project entitled “Who is empowered by Strasbourg? Migrants and States before the European Court of Human Rights”. This is one of ten projects which together form the interdisciplinary research group “Human Rights Discourse in Migration Societies” (Menschenrechtsdiskurse in der Migrationsgesellschaft, MeDiMi). The aim of MeDiMi is to determine the scope, forms and consequences of the expansion of human rights discourse in contemporary migration societies. Your doctoral thesis will be designed as a bi-national PhD between the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and JLU Giessen (‘co-tutelle’). You will cooperate closely with the project team located at the Amsterdam Centre for Migration and Refugee Law (ACMRL) and be embedded in a cooperative research consortium with MeDiMi partner institutes in Germany.

Your duties

• learn to independently conduct high-quality research, culminating in a monographic study (PhD thesis)
• collaborate with researchers within and outside the ACMRL and the MeDiMi consortium
• conduct legal analysis of relevant judgments
• make a (small) contribution to teaching

Requirements

• A law degree, or demonstrated experience with legal doctrinal analysis; experience with case law analysis is desirable
• A keen interest in migration and human rights law, legal argumentation and concepts
• A demonstrated high degree of self-discipline; excellent analytical skills and experience with legal writing
• Experience or affinity with interdisciplinary research, especially political theory, philosophy or sociology
• High-level communication skills in English; excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills; Dutch and/or German language skills are an asset

What are we offering? A challenging position in a socially involved organization. The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts €2.310 (scale 1) per month during the first year and increases to €2,462 (scale 3) per month during the fourth year, based on a full-time employment. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 1 FTE.

The appointment will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a duration of 4 years. Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

Application Are you interested in this position? Please use this link to find the application procedure and more information about the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Applicants are expected to upload:

• curriculum vitae
• cover letter explaining why you would like to do this PhD
• transcripts of grades

Apply before June 1, 2022. Job interviews are planned for 16 June 2022, if possible please take this into account when applying for the position.

Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

Vacancy questions If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Name: Dr. J.M. (Janna) Wessels, project manager Position: Assistant professor migration law E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: +31 20 59 89007

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Human rights groups question delay in appointment of NHRC chairperson

India’s top human rights body, which should have a chair plus five full-time members, currently has just one woman member; nhrc accreditation by global human rights group deferred for second year in a row.

Updated - September 13, 2024 07:44 pm IST - NEW DELHI

National Human Rights Commission.

The National Human Rights Commission has not had a full-time chairperson since June and has only one member to fill five positions. Human rights groups are warning that the delay in filling vacant posts will hurt India’s global reputation.

The NHRC chairperson’s post has been lying vacant for three-and-a-half months, since former Supreme Court justice Arun Mishra retired from the position on June 1.

The country’s apex human rights body should have a chairperson as well as five other full-time members. However, the full weight of responsibilities currently lies on the shoulders of Vijayabharathi Sayani, who is NHRC’s sole full-time member and was appointed as the acting chairperson on June 5. She also fulfils the requirement for a woman member in the panel. The Commission has seven ex-officio or deemed members as well.

‘Lack of transparency’

Earlier this year, the Geneva-based UN-linked Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) deferred NHRC’s accreditation for the second year in a row. The Geneva-based group cited several reasons, including the lack of transparency in appointing members to the Commission, and the poor gender and minority representation of the panel.

Amnesty International noted out that almost five months after the GANHRI deferred NHRC’s ‘A’ status, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been unable to complete the formal recruitment of members to the Commission, and now has delayed the appointment of a chairperson as well.

“The delay in holding a free and fair recruitment is symbolic of the NHRC’s and Indian government’s clear lack of political will to act and apparent reluctance to effectively respond to and address the deteriorating human rights violations in the country and to uphold transparency and accountability,” says Aakar Patel, who chairs Amnesty International India’s board.

Funding, independence needed

The U.S. State Department’s 2023 human rights report has flagged dozens of different kinds of human rights abuses in India, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions, repeated internet shutdowns, and violence targeting members of ethnic and caste minorities.

Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia division, said that the Indian government should not only appoint an NHRC chief but should also ensure that the Commission is independent and properly resourced.

“India’s NHRC rating for compliance with the Paris Principles is still pending because of serious failures of the previous Commission to act independently,” she added.

Changed criteria

The NHRC chairperson’s post could only be occupied by a retired Chief Justice of India (CJI) till 2019, when the Parliament amended the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 and revised this eligibility criteria to allow any Supreme Court judge to head the Commission. Justice Mishra was the first non-CJI who occupied the post for three years, starting from June 1, 2021.

“The amendment happened as the government claimed that CJIs were showing reluctance in joining the Commission after retirement,” a senior Commission official says, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Perennial problem

He added that this is not the first time that the Union government has shown a callous approach in appointing the NHRC chief; there have been similar delays at least thrice under the BJP-led government. “The situation was not very different at the time of the Congress,” he added.

READ: Candid notes on the NHRC’s status deferral

There have been long gaps between the stints of the last four NHRC chiefs, during which the Commission has been left headless. Justice Mishra was appointed more than six months after former CJI H.L. Dattu retired as NHRC chief, in December 2020. Justice Dattu’s appointment, in February 2016, came almost nine months after the retirement of his predecessor Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, who was the sixth and longest-serving chairperson of the Commission. In his turn, Justice Balakrishna was appointed over a year after Justice S. Rajendra Babu retired from the post in May 2009.

‘Lethargic approach’

In July 2023, the Supreme Court decided to examine a plea accusing the Union government of taking a “lethargic” approach to filling up vacancies in the NHRC. A Bench headed by the current CJI D.Y. Chandrachud issued notice on a plea by activist Radhakanta Tripathy, who said that the NHRC was functioning at just half its strength.

A year later, in July 2024, the top court again granted two weeks time to the Union government to file a reply to the same plea; now, however, the Commission is running without a chairperson and four of its permanent members.

Mr. Tripathy alleged that, despite the date fixed by the CJI bench, the matter of vacant posts in NHRC is not being listed, although the time given to the government to respond ended almost two months back.

Published - September 13, 2024 07:31 pm IST

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US sanctions powerful Cambodian tycoon over alleged human rights abuses in scam operations

Topic: Scams and Fraud

Ly Yong Phat has been sanctioned by the US government over his alleged involvement in forced labour for the online scams industry.  ( AP:  Agence Kampuchea Press  )

The US has announced sanctions on Ly Yong Phat, one of Cambodia's wealthiest and most politically connected tycoons, over allegations of human rights abuses related to the online scam industry.

Human trafficking victims rescued from Mr Ly's O'Smach Resort claim to have been forced to trick victims into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency and other schemes.

What's next?

Observers say the sanctions are a "move in the right direction".

The United States has imposed sanctions on one of Cambodia's wealthiest and most powerful tycoons over alleged human rights abuses committed against trafficking victims forced to work in online scam centres.

Ly Yong Phat, who holds the title of "neak okhna" sometimes translated as "lord", is a senator with the ruling Cambodian People's Party and a member of the party's Central Committee. In 2022, he was appointed as adviser to then prime minister Hun Sen, who is now president of the senate.

With interests in the sugar, tobacco and electricity industries as well as casinos and tourism, Mr Ly has for decades been accused of unethical business practices enabled by his political connections, from forced evictions and illegal land clearing to child labour.

Ly Yong Phat is one of Cambodia's most powerful and politically connected tycoons. ( AP: Heng Sinith )

Most recently, Mr Ly's O'Smach Resort, on the Thai border, has reportedly been turned into a cyber scamming hub with rescued foreign workers claiming to have been forced to trick victims into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency and other schemes.

The ABC has attempted to contact Mr Ly for a response. 

Cambodia and other countries in South-East Asia have emerged in recent years as the epicentre of a multi-billion-dollar criminal industry targeting victims across the world with online scams, most prominently "pig butchering" , often operating from fortified compounds run by Chinese syndicates and staffed by trafficked workers.  

The Cambodian government has continually tried to play down the issue, saying that those claiming to be trafficking victims were simply involved in "labour disputes".

A report by the US Institute of Peace earlier this year estimated online scamming operations in Cambodia were netting more than $US12.5 billion ($18.61 billion) per year — half the country's formal GDP — with many compounds owned by local elites.

According to the ACCC's National Anti-Scam Centre , Australians have reported losing about $159.8 million to scams so far this year. There is no information about how much of that was lost to scammers in Cambodia. 

The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control said the sanctions imposed on Thursday targeted Mr Ly's LYP Group conglomerate and the O'Smach Resort.

It said it was also sanctioning Cambodia-based Garden City Hotel, Koh Kong Resort, and Phnom Penh Hotel for being owned or controlled by Mr Ly.

"Today's action underscores our commitment to hold accountable those involved in human trafficking and other abuses, while also disrupting their ability to operate investment fraud schemes that target countless unsuspecting individuals, including Americans," said acting undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T Smith. 

Ly Yong Phat's O'Smach Resort has reportedly been turned into a hub for online scam operations.  ( Supplied: LYP Group )

A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson told the ABC that Australia is "deeply concerned" about online scam operations in South-East Asia "and their links to transnational and serious organised crime, including human trafficking for forced criminality, cyber fraud and money-laundering".

"Australia is working closely with our international partners to share intelligence, identify and disrupt cyber scam syndicates and protect scam victims in Australia and around the world," the spokesperson said.

"Last month, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched global operation, Operation Firestorm, focused on cyber criminals and human trafficking targets in South-East Asia and Eastern Europe."

"The AFP has 30 permanently-based members in South-East Asia who are working with local law enforcement to tackle a range of crime affecting Australians."

Jacob Sims, a transnational crime and modern slavery expert, told the ABC that while a good first step, sanctions were far more effective when they are imposed by multiple countries. 

"Australia is well-established as a haven for asset storage by the Cambodian kleptocratic elite," he said. 

"If the government hopes to take seriously the risks to its citizens or trafficking victims from around the world by this particularly egregious abuser, following suit is a clear decision."

'Extensive and systemic serious human rights abuse'

The Treasury report said that for more than two years the O'Smach Resort had been the subject of reports "for extensive and systemic serious human rights abuse".

It said victims reported being lured there with false employment opportunities, having phones and passports confiscated upon arrival, and being forced to work in scam operations.

"People who called for help reported being beaten, abused with electric shocks, made to pay a hefty ransom, or threatened with being sold to other online scam gangs," it said, adding that there had been two reports of victims jumping to their death from buildings within the resort.

The report said local authorities had conducted repeated rescue missions, including in October 2022 and March 2024, freeing victims of various nationalities, including Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean, Thai, and Vietnamese.

The US State Department's Cambodia Trafficking in Persons Report in June said that Cambodian government officials were complicit in trafficking and that some officials owned facilities used by scam operators.

"Despite widespread reporting of forced criminality in online scam compounds in Ko Kong, Sihanoukville, O’Smach, and other locations along the Cambodia-Thailand border and along the coast, law enforcement did not charge any high-level officials, compound operators, or complicit landlords of the compound properties," it said.

A change in approach?

The sanctions come at a delicate phase in relations between the US and Cambodia, which has moved ever closer to Washington's strategic rival China despite US efforts to woo new Prime Minister Hun Manet, son of longtime strongman Hun Sen.

The US and other governments have repeatedly engaged with Cambodia to put an end to the scam centres.

Washington had considered sanctions for months, sources briefed on the matter told Reuters. They said the decision was initially expected earlier this year but had been delayed.

A change of leadership to West Point-educated Hun Manet last year was seen by US officials as an opportunity to mend ties with Cambodia, but despite US efforts, its ties with China have steadily grown. Beijing sent warships to Cambodia this year and is backing the expansion of a key naval base. 

Mr Sims, in an op-ed for The Diplomat , said it remained unclear how the sanctions fit into a broader US strategy to "constrain elite Cambodian criminality".

"While historic and bold, an isolated sanction against a powerful bad actor is unlikely to materially shift the incentives guiding Cambodia's state-affiliated transnational crime industries," he said. "There are many, many more actors who also merit sanctions." 

However, he said it was "a move in the right direction".

A statement from Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation seen by the ABC expressed "deep regret" over what it called an "unjust decision" which "targeted" Mr Ly.

It upheld Mr Ly as a "widely recognised" figure in Cambodia's socio-economic development and disparaged the report which implicated him as "regrettable and misleading".

"The move, based on unconfirmed reports of forced labour linked to online investment scams, are politically motivated and run counter to the spirit of reinforcing our bilateral cooperation and mutual trust," the statement read.

"To claim that Cambodia has been indifferent or negligent in enforcing the law is a gross misrepresentation of our efforts and achievements in tackling these complex, transnational challenges."

"The imposition of such unilateral sanctions undermines the respect for international law and basic norms governing interstate relations, in particular the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference."

ABC/Reuters