human rights

Irish Penal Reform Trust

Website for the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT), an independent organisation campaigning for dignity, justice and humane approaches in the development and implementation of penal systems, particularly in Ireland. The site outlines the Trust's aims and mission supported by the publication onsite of Trust Policy statements on matters such as the introduction of private prisons in Ireland and sentencing in the District Court. Policy responses and submissions and relevant press stories are also provided.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent body established by the Northern Ireland Act 1998, as part of the "Good Friday Agreement". The Commission aims to defend and promote the human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland through law, policy and practice measured against international standards. The Commission's website explains its work, describes its statutory powers, lists its membership and publishes press releases and other documents.

European Court of Human Rights

Web pages of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which has been in existence since 1959 and which was set up under the European Convention on Human Rights. The website includes the HUDOC database of ECtHR cases, European Commission of Human Rights decisions and reports and resolutions of the Committee of Ministers. The site also provides details of pending cases; the text of the European Convention on Human Rights and its protocols; and the rules of the Court together with information about its composition, organisation and historical background.

HUDOC: Human Rights Documentation

HUDOC is a free database of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) cases, decisions and reports of the European Commission of Human Rights, and resolutions of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. It is part of the ECHR web portal. Users may search by case name, respondent, application number, Convention article, keyword, conclusion, date range and other criteria. Documents are HTML, PDF or Word format. The interface is available in English, French, Russian, Spanish or Turkish; the documents are mostly in English and/or French.

Derechos Human Rights

Web pages of Derechos Human Rights, an organisation which campaigns against violations and provides information about human rights around the world, particularly in Latin America. The site can be browsed by subject or country. Subjects include the death penalty, the disappeared, freedom of speech, economic and social rights and the impunity of violators. There are country headings for Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Spain, United States and the European Union. There is a collection of articles and a human rights blog.

Genocide Watch

Web pages of Genocide Watch, a non-governmental organisation based in Canada. Genocide Watch seeks to confront and counteract acts of gender-selective mass killing, such as female infanticide, by raising public awareness, doing research and producing educational resources. Several case studies are available on the site, giving background information, some maps, photographs and accounts of cases of gendercide in Kossovo, Srebrenica, Rwanda, Montreal, maternal mortality and female infanticide, among others.

Japan Federation of Bar Associations

Website of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA), whose objectives include the protection of human rights in Japan, the registration of attorneys and the governance of matters relating to the guidance and supervision of Japanese attorneys and local bar associations. Background information on the JFBA is given including its objectives, categories of membership, membership rates, committees and an outline of the Japanese legal system and role of the attorney. The JFBA rules and regulations include full-text (HTML) of the code of ethics and the articles of association.

Human Rights Law Centre

Website of the Human Rights Law Centre at the School of Law, University of Nottingham. "The aim of the Centre is to facilitate teaching and research on human rights issues". The site includes an overview of the Centre and its members, details of research and publications emanating from the Centre and a list of conferences, workshops and courses organised by the Centre.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights seeks to promote universal enjoyment of all human rights by responding to violations and promoting the implementation of international instruments. Its website provides the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in over 300 different languages, together with human rights treaties, fact sheets, decisions and working documents of the various UN human rights bodies (such as the Committee Against Torture and the Council on Human Rights). Printed and multi-media materials relating to the Universal Declaration are also available.

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