Human Rights

Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute

The Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute (BLHRRI) is a research and training organisation concerned with discrimination against the Buraku people in Japan. Buraku people are a minority group whose ancestors were considered outcasts because of their occupations. The site provides background and historical information, details of BLHRRI's publications and issues of Buraku Liberation News from 1997 onwards; this newsletter can be viewed in English and gives details of events, activities and research along with campaign updates. The site is in English and Japanese.

Towards the human rights protection of minority languages in Africa

Guide to human rights protection of minority languages in Africa, by Innocent Maja, Senior Partner of a Zimbabwean law firm and a Lecturer in the Private Law Department at the University of Zimbabwe's Faculty of Law. The article was published in 2008 on the Globalex website and made freely available by the Hauser Global Law School at the New York University School of Law. The author provides an introduction to the subject looking at various definitions of what a minority language is and the threat of extinction to minority languages.

Reporters Privilege Compendium

The Reporter's Privilege Compendium is a resource for US journalists, compiled by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. It provides information on the law relating to reporter's privilege - the right not to be forced to testify or disclose sources / information in court - in each state and federal circuit. Covers the authority for and source of the right; the scope of protection; procedures for issuing and contesting subpoenas; substantive law on contesting subpoenas; what constitutes compliance; appealing and other issues.

Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

The Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at Washington College of Law provides support and training for human rights students, practitioners and activists around the world. Its website has information about the Center's training programmes, outreach work, conferences and publications. Publications are also available, including the student-run periodical, Human Rights Brief, and there is a link to the Center's YouTube channel.

International Human Rights Association

The International Human Rights Association (IHRA) is a non-profit voluntary organisation based in India. It provides technical assistance to government and community-based groups and works with poor people and other vulnerable groups. Its website gives details of IHRA training, workshops, helplines and dispute resolution work; it also has online forms for the reporting of human rights abuses. Some legal resources are available, a bibliography of laws/commentary relating to human rights, links to key websites, legal aid forms and data protection/FoI forms.

The 1967 Referendum: history and myths

Australian Parliamentary Library research briefing published in 2007, on the Parliament of Australia's ParlInfo site. The 1967 referendum led to changes in the Australian Constitution and resulted in aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders being counted in the census. The referendum also opened the door to further changes in the way aborigines were treated by non-aborigines. The briefing provides background and historical information, looks at the implications and impact of the referendum and addresses myths which have grown up around it.

Southern Africa Litigation Centre

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre began as  a joint initiative between the International Bar Association (IBA) and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA). It works to foster human rights, democracy, the rule of law and access to justice in the region by means of advocacy, litigation, training and capacity building. The Centre's website has information about its cases, together with reports, briefings, statements, articles and news. The content can be browsed by topic or by country. 

Exploitation of women and children: a comparative study of human trafficking laws between the United States-Mexico and China-Vietnam

Online guide by Christina T. Le, Judicial Law Clerk to the U.S. Immigration Court in Houston. The guide was published in 2007 (and updated in 2021 by Christina T. Le with assistance from Cathleen S. Creeganon) on New York University's Globalex website. It provides background information to human trafficking and looks at the efforts of the international community to address the problem. An overview is given of trafficking between the US and Mexico and between China and Vietnam, including statistics and details of legislation.

Human rights: 800 years of human rights in the United Kingdom explored using original documents from the National Archives

Online exhibition created by the National Archives, last updated in 2008. Provides free access to a large collection of primary source materials relating to human rights in the UK from 1215 to 1945. Users may browse a timeline, view supporting images and read background information. There is also a glossary of terms. Topics include Magna Carta; the Peasants' Revolt; women's rights; and trade unions.

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