Human Rights Centre Blog
By Michael Morrison In a world where human rights are not universally respected, there are courageous individuals who face persecution, silencing, torture, and forced displacement just for standing up for their beliefs. Prisoners Of Conscience (PoC), our UK-based charity, stands in solidarity with these brave people, offering both financial and practical support to those who defend human rights worldwide. Prisoners Of Conscience operates […]
By Saleh Hijazi I graduated from the University of Essex Human Rights Center in 2007. I went on to work as a human rights researcher documenting and reporting on violations in Palestine for over 13 years. The work was always risky not least because of the brutality of Israel’s system of apartheid which regularly targets journalists and […]
Image from flickr by Wasfi Akab By Carla Ferstman There is a psychological reaction we tend to have, when we read the news and try to process the horrific images and pictures we see of massive human suffering, wherever it might be happening. Perhaps it has something to do with the coping mechanisms we deploy […]
By Audrey Olivier Last year, I joined the Human Rights Leadership Lab with Liz Griffin at the Human Rights Centre, Essex University. It caught my attention as it is the first course which I have come across on leadership specifically tailored to the needs of human rights activists and professionals and has a central focus on values. Over the […]
By Kola Alapinni As an International Human Rights Lawyer deeply committed to defending fundamental freedoms and combating injustice, my work often leads me to confront egregious violations of human rights. One such battle unfolded in Northern Nigeria, where the oppressive grip of blasphemy laws threatened the lives and liberties of individuals like Yahaya Aminu-Sharif and […]
By Dr. Katya Alkhateeb Spotlight regularly features a significant individual or team from the Human Rights Community to answer questions put by students and colleagues from the University of Essex. This time we feature Dr. Matthew Gillett. Dr. Gillett was appointed as a United Nations Special Mandate Holder in 2022. Specifically, he is the Expert […]
By Dr Sophie Duroy (@sophie_duroy/@sophieduroy.bsky.social) In my book, The Regulation of Intelligence Activities under International Law, I conduct a thorough examination of modern intelligence practices within the framework of human rights, international law, and national security. My aim is to engage both legal scholars and intelligence professionals, melding legal analysis with pragmatic considerations of national security. […]
By Carla Ferstman, Professor, Essex Law School This is a brief reflection on South Africa’s recent Application to the International Court of Justice alleging that the state of Israel is breaching its obligations under the Genocide Convention. The case is being followed closely around the world. The allegations couldn’t be more serious. The case relates to Israel’s military […]
By Passent Moussa The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was a milestone in the history of the international community, and an aspiration that brought nations together in the wake of the Holocaust of World War II. The aim was to prevent such an atrocity from happening again, and to protect the rights of all […]
In 2022 and 2023, teams from the University of Essex Digital Verification Unit (DVU) assisted the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine (“Commission of Inquiry”) with reports on digital materials relevant to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and speech crimes committed in connection with the conflict in Ukraine. For the SGBV project, which the DVU conducted in 2022, the DVU […]
Human Rights Centre Blog