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Human Rights and Transitional Justice

Description

The members of this group engage in the study of effective processes for preventing serious international human rights violations and for bringing about justice in societies where rights have been systematically violated. There is a large cohort of faculty and graduate students at the University of Minnesota whose research, teaching and programmatic agendas pertain to the interrelated fields of human rights and transitional justice. Our interest in human rights includes the interdisciplinary study of norms that recognize and protect the rights of all human persons, as well as the causes and consequences of human rights violations. The rapidly emerging field of transitional justice involves the study of the multiple mechanisms, including trials, truth commissions, memorials and other manifestations of collective memory that are designed to address past repression and widespread violations of human rights. In addition to teaching and research in the field, our faculty, graduate and professional students collaborate regularly with human rights professionals working in nongovernmental organizations around the world to promote respect for human rights. 

As a group we will increase efforts to coordinate human rights activities at the University, including research, conferences, hearings, internships and advocacy work. We will work to increase visibility of the variety of opportunities for graduate students to engage with human rights.  We also hope to draw the interest of other faculty, students, and outside experts to the various facets of study and research in the field.

Leadership

The primary contact for this group is Barbara Frey (Human Rights Program).

Membership

Please direct questions about the new interdisciplinary graduate groups to Vicki Field, Director of The Graduate School’s Office of Interdisciplinary Initiatives, field001@umn.edu or 612-625-6532.