Call for papers: Are Human Rights a myth or a lived reality?

Published 28 February 2019

The Netherlands Network of Human Rights Research research day takes place on 20 and 21 June this year. © Shutterstock.

The Netherlands Network of Human Rights Research (NNHRR), which connects Dutch human rights researchers and is coordinated by the Asser Institute, will host its annual research day (‘Toogdag’) on 20 and 21 June at Maastricht University. The topic of the upcoming event and an accompanying call for papers is "The (In) Effectiveness of Human Rights: Are Human Rights a Myth or a Lived Reality?"

The adoption by the United Nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 marked the beginning of the modern system of protection of human rights at the international level. Since that date, much has been said about the effectiveness or, rather, the ineffectiveness of human rights. This perceived ineffectiveness relates not only to institutional challenges at the international level but also to national implementation mechanisms and processes.

The 2019 Toogdag of the NNHRR seeks to explore, from an interdisciplinary perspective, whether human rights are a myth or a lived reality. The conference is structured around three sub-themes: i) The effectiveness of international law: institutions and processes; ii) The effectiveness of human rights monitoring and implementation at the domestic level; and iii) Human rights at the individual level: individual experiences and key actors.

Call for papers
The organisers are looking for papers that fall clearly within the following themes:

  • The effectiveness of international law: institutions and processes;
  • The effectiveness of human rights monitoring and implementation at the domestic level;
  • Human rights at the individual level: individual experiences and key actors.

The deadline for submitting papers is 15 March 2019. 

More information
You can find more information on the programme, the call for papers and registration on the NNHRR Toogdag event page.

The Netherlands Network of Human Rights Research associates human rights researchers in the Netherlands and aims to connect human rights research and practice. Member institutions of the NNHRR are Erasmus University Rotterdam, Leiden University, Maastricht University, Tilburg University, University of Amsterdam, University of Groningen, Utrecht University and the Asser Institute. The Asser Institute coordinates and administers the NNHRR.