This Week at ISN

16 - 20 January 2012 Both a cause and a symptom of the structural changes currently occurring in the international system is the general concept of human rights and its practical application in a growing portion of international law. This week we explore the definition, scope and roles of human rights and the Janus-faced relationship between the expanding concept of rights and attempts - through international law - to make them effective.

Laying the Groundwork: The Definition, Scope and Roles of Human Rights
What Are Human Rights and Where Do They Come From?
16 Jan 2012 / ISN Special Feature

To understand the character as well as the origin of human rights we look at two pieces written by Michael Perry and consider Lynn Hunt's account of the historical genesis of human rights. More The Scope of Human Rights in Today's World
17 Jan 2012 / ISN Feature

The actual scope of universal human rights remains a subject of intense debate. Do individual rights take priority over communities, or should 'shared values' enjoy pride of place? More The Impact of Human Rights in the International System
18 Jan 2012 / ISN Podcast

Building on our exploration of what constitutes human rights, Christine Bell, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Edinburgh, discusses their intersection with international institutions and conflict resolution. More Victim Participation in International Criminal Justice
19 Jan 2012 / ISN Podcast

Elisabeth Baumgartner talks about the roles, rights and responsibilities of individuals and organizations concerning victim participation in international criminal justice. She explains why victims are more than just witnesses in criminal proceedings, and discusses the arguments for and against enhanced victim participation. More International Human Rights Treaties Curse or Blessing?
19 Jan 2012 / ISN Blog

A couple of weeks ago the Russian Foreign Ministry released a report, criticizing human rights violations in the US. While the report wasn't received too seriously by the international community, Eveline Hpli writes that this could be interpreted as a good sign because it implies that Beijing and Moscow accept the legitimacy of human rights. More The Problem with International Law as a Promoter of Individual Rights and "Justice"
20 Jan 2012 / ISN Feature

International legal mechanisms remain bedeviled by a number of problems. One of the more prominent of these problems involves the work of international criminal tribunals and courts. More

Other Topics
Could Russia's Ultranationalists Subvert Pro-Democracy Protests?

19 Jan 2012 / ISN Insights

In what is becoming a familiar feature of Russia's modern history, Moscow's December 2011 protests have seen a new alliance between Russian democrats and ultranationalists. More Haiti Faces Major Challenges Two Years On
16 Jan 2012 / ISN Insights

Political paralysis, a lack of leadership from the international community and a cholera epidemic continue to plague Haiti two years after a devastating earthquake. More Rawls and International Law
18 Jan 2012 / ISN Blog

Though probably the most important political theorist of the 20th century, John Rawls is primarily known for his 'domestic' contributions. Less well appreciated is his work in international political theory and international law, writes William Rooke. More Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Political Economy of Terrorism
17 Jan 2012 / ISN Blog

The November 2011 kidnapping and killings of EU nationals in Northern Mali underline the complexity of the terrorist threat in the Sahel region, and its connection to transnational criminal activities. Xenia de Graaf wonders whether the EU counter-terrorism strategy for the Sahel region is fit to confront this challenge. More

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