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2009
- Olga Martin-Ortega and Johanna Herman presented the book Surviving Field Research. Working in Difficult and Violence Situations at the University of the Andes in Bogota, Colombia
- Professor Sriram leader of team authoring guidance note on governance and conflict prevention for the United Nations Development Programme
- Surviving field research roundtable launch held at Kings College London
- New international law textbook co-authored by Olga Martin-Ortega in Spanish
- New chapter in the textbook International Law for International Relations by Professor Chandra Lekha Sriram with Dr. Fiona Adamson.
- New article on International Organisations and Anti-Terrorist sanctions by Carmen Draghici
- New policy brief by CHRC on transitional justice and peacebuilding strategies
- Professor Chandra Lekha Sriram part of team awarded research grant by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
- Professor Chandra Lekha Sriram awarded Nuffield Small Grant for research on: Accountability for post-election violence in Kenya: What next?
- Publication of War, Conflict and Human Rights: Theory and Practice
- Johanna Herman awarded grant from Promising Researcher Scheme
2008
- Counter-terrorism, human rights and international legality seminar
- Two new books published by Dr. Olga Martin-Ortega and Professor Chandra Sriram
- Ten years after Pinochet: The future of universal jurisdiction
- Centre part of successful EU VII bid
- Arrival of Leverhulme Visiting Fellow
2007
Olga Martin-Ortega and Johanna Herman presented the book Surviving Field Research: Working in Difficult and Violence Situations, at the Department for Political Sciences at the University of the Andes in Bogota, Colombia on 2 December 2009. They had the opportunity to exchange views and experiences with researchers from Colombia and elsewhere in a a lively discussion afterwards.
We are pleased to share with you Governance in Conflict Prevention and Recovery: A Guidance Note, which is intended to support Country Office efforts to engage in such programming in conflict affected contexts. The note is a joint publication of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) and the Democratic Governance Group of the Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) through its Oslo Governance centre.
In June 2009, the UN secretary General's Report on Peacebuilding in the Immediate Aftermath of Conflict became the latest in a series of policy documents to endorse the now widespread view that good governance plays an important role in the prevention of and recovery from violent conflict. The Report emphasizes the importance of efforts 'to build core State capacities that will help to restore its legitimacy and effectiveness' (para 18), 'effective communication and an inclusive dialogue between national authorities and the population' (para 9); 'to shore up and build confidence in the political process, and strengthen core national capacity to lead peacebuilding efforts' (para 3). Notably, the Report advocates that the UN must do more to support such efforts (para 6).
The Note provides insights into the debates on the intended and unintended effects of democratic governance interventions, introduces the main challenges and opportunities about which we have learned, and provides examples of practical tools and resources that can guide our responces. Informed by theory and practice, this note presents numerous country and programming examples that illustrate these issues and suggest possible effective responses to them.
The full report is available here.
Roundtable convened by the Centre on Human Rights in Conflict of the University of East London, held on the 16 October 2009, at King’s College London, to view the meeting notes please click here. The book Surviving field research: Working in violent and difficult situations is available here.
Chair: Chandra Lekha Sriram, University of East London, Centre on Human Rights in Conflict
Participants:
Lars Waldorf, University of York
Oliver Richmond, University of St. Andrews, School of International Relations, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
Olga Martin-Ortega, University of East London, Centre on Human Rights in Conflict
Johanna Herman, University of East London, Centre on Human Rights in Conflict
Summary: In recent decades there has been increasing attention to mass atrocities such as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other gross human rights violations. At the same time, there has been a vast increase in the number of academics and researchers seeking to analyze the causes of, and offer practical responses to, these atrocities. Yet there remains insufficient discussion of the practical and ethical challenges surrounding research into serious abuses and dealing with vulnerable populations. 
The participants in this roundtable considered a range of challenges arising in such fieldwork, building on their own experiences. Specific challenges include: Ethics; Access; Veracity; Security; and Identity, objectivity, and behaviour. The roundtable celebrated the publication of the edited volume, Surviving field research: Working in violent and difficult situations (eds. Chandra Lekha Sriram, John C. King, Julie A. Mertus, Olga Martin-Ortega, and Johanna Herman), in which contributors consider these issues in more detail.
The organizers gratefully acknowledge the support of the British Branch of Women in International Security and particularly Dr. Rachel Kerr.
A new international law textbook has been published in Spain, authored by several Spanish international lawyers, including Senior Research Fellow at the Centre on Human Rights in Conflict Olga Martin-Ortega. The book offers a clear, systematic and critical exposition of the legal dynamics inherent in Public International Law. It is thought and written for undergraduate students but open to all those readers willing to understand better how our current world is regulated. The book includes, together with classical debates in International Law, analysis of current debates in the issues such as use of force in international relations, the international protection of human rights, the regulation of economic globalisation, etc.
More information can be obtained here
Professor Chandra Lekha Sriram contributed as a co-author, with Dr. Fiona Adamson of the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, to a new textbook, entitled International Law for International Relations, edited by Dr. Basak Cali of University College London, http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199558421.do
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Carmen Draghici’s first article developed during her time as the Centre’s Leverhulme Visiting Research Fellow during 2008 is now in print. “International organisations and anti-terrorist sanctions: no accountability for human rights violations?” was published in the August 2009 issue of Critical Studies on Terrorism. More details at: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a914708871. Dr. Draghici joins City University in London as a law lecturer this fall.
Chandra Lekha Sriram, Olga Martin-Ortega and Johanna Herman have authored "Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding Strategies: Considerations for Policymakers" as part of the EU VII framework project Just and Durable Peace by Piece, led by the University of Lund.
Peacebuilding and transitional justice are both multifaceted processes, which although
often treated as if they were in opposition, may actually involve shared goals and
activities. This brief outlines several points policymakers should consider when
implementing programmes and formulating policies for conflict-affected countries.
Following contested elections in Kenya in December 2007, unrest and violence shook the country in January and February 2008, prompting diplomatic intervention by the international community, most notably by the former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. Subsequent negotiations and debates have considered several possible fora for trying individuals responsible for orchestrating the post-conflict violence, with a hybrid tribunal, a special local tribunal, local ordinary Kenyan courts, and the International Criminal Court all put forward at various moments. Research to be conducted under this grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada will examine the ongoing debates over accountability and the prospects for rule of law in Kenya regardless of which accountability mechanism is finally utilized. Professor Stephen Brown of the University of Ottawa is the principal investigator, with Professor Sriram as the co-investigator.
Following contested elections in Kenya in December 2007, unrest and violence shook the country in January and February 2008, prompting diplomatic intervention by the international community, most notably by the former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. As part of the National Dialogue and Reconciliation process, the government appointed a Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence, known as the Waki Commission. A key recommendation of the Waki Report was the establishment of a hybrid Special Tribunal to try those responsible for the worst abuses, with the credibility and independence that Kenyan courts lack; in the absence of this the ICC was expected to take up investigations. However, political jockeying has meant that to date neither has occurred. This research will examine the ongoing debates over accountability and the prospects for rule of law in Kenya whether a hybrid or international accountability process emerges.
The CHRC is pleased to announce the publication of War, Conflict and Human Rights: Theory and Practice, an innovative new inter-disciplinary textbook, combining aspects of law, politics and conflict analysis to examine the relationship between human rights and armed conflict. The authors of the textbook are Chandra Sriram, Director of the CHRC, Olga Martin-Ortega, Senior Research Fellow and Johanna Herman, Research Fellow. For information on ordering please see the Routledge website.
Making use of both theoretical and practical approaches, this book:
This book will be essential reading for students of war and conflict studies, human rights and international humanitarian law, and highly recommended for students of conflict resolution, peacebuilding, international security and international relations, generally.
Johanna Herman, Research Fellow at the CHRC has been awarded a grant from the University of East London's Promising Researcher Scheme. She will use the funds to carry out the project "Reaching for justice: Victim participation and outreach activities in transitional justice" focusing on the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and International Criminal Court. The project will provide a comparative examination of victim participation in trials, provision for reparations and the outreach activities of the courts and involve fieldwork in both Cambodia and The Hague.
On June 25th a bill to amend existing universal jurisdiction legislation in Spain was passed by the Spanish Congress and now awaits approval in the Senate. The bill follows an agreement between Spain's two main political parties on amending Article 23.4 of the Spanish Organic Law on the Judicial Power (LOPJ in its Spanish acronym). The purpose of this amendment is to limit the capacity of Spanish courts to exercise jurisdiction over international crimes committed abroad by non-Spanish nationals. This amendment has been made through an unusual and extraordinary parliamentary process which limits debate, and in fact prevents necessary informed discussion on it. While final passage of this legislation now appears inevitable, it is also lamentable, as it would be a loss to our common humanity.
To continue reading the article by Olga Martin-Ortega and Jordi Palau-Loverdos clike here.
The CHRC has published two new policy papers on "Trading Justice for Security? UN Anti-Terrorism, Due Process Rights and the Role of the Judiciary", by Carmen Draghici and "Peace as Governance? Critical Challenges to Power-Sharing Peace Deals" by Chandra L. Sriram. The papers are available here.
The 6th edition of the textbook "International Law" by Professor Rebecca M.M. Wallace, updated with the help of Olga Martin-Ortega, in now out. This textbook on international law has been used by students world wide since its first edition in 1986. It provides readers readers with a user-friendly and accessible exposition of the key concepts of International law. The sixth edition incorporates discussion and analysis of both UK and US material including examples of cases and sources. The authors continue to provide analysis of human rights issues as well as examining in depth issues relating to the use of force and the role of non-state actors.
For more information click here.
The Centre on Human Rights in Conflict in the School of Law is pleased to announce the publication of an edited volume, developed in collaboration with colleagues at American University in Washington, DC. Surviving Field Research: Working in Violent and Difficult Situations, is edited by Chandra Lekha Sriram, John C. King, Julie A. Mertus, Olga Martin-Ortega, and Johanna Herman.
In recent decades there has been increasing attention to mass atrocities such as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other gross human rights violations. At the same time, there has been a vast increase in the number of academics and researchers seeking to analyze the causes of, and offer practical responses to, these atrocities. Yet there remains insufficient discussion of the practical and ethical challenges surrounding research into serious abuses and dealing with vulnerable populations.
The aim of this edited volume is to guide researchers in identifying and addressing challenges in conducting qualitative research in difficult circumstances, such as conducting research in autocratic or uncooperative regimes, with governmental or non-governmental officials, and perhaps most importantly, with reluctant respondents such as victims of genocide or (on the other side of the coin) war criminals. The volume proceeds in five substantive sections, each addressing a different challenge of conducting field research in conflict-affected or repressive situations: Ethics; Access; Veracity; Security; and Identity, objectivity, behaviour.
Peace versus Justice?: The Dilemma of Transitional Justice in Africa offers fresh insights on the so-called 'justice versus peace' dilemma, examining the challenges and prospects for promoting both peace and accountability, specifically in African countries affected by conflict or political violence.
Editors Chandra Lekha Sriram and Suren Pillay's book draws on the expertise of many insider analysts, individuals who are not only authorities on transitional accountability processes, but who have participated in them, whether as legal practitioners or commissioners. While the primary focus is on processes in Africa, many of the contributors also draw on lessons from earlier processes elsewhere in the world, particularly Latin America.
The chapters in this volume consider a wide range of approaches to accountability and peacebuilding. These include not only domestic courts and tribunals, hybrid tribunals, or the International Criminal Court, but also truth commissions and informal or non-state justice and conflict resolution processes. Taken together, they demonstrate the wealth of experiences and experimentation in transitional justice processes on the continent.
The Centre on Human Rights in Conflict hosted a meeting on March 26th and 27th 2009 for all the project partners in the EU Framework VII project "Building a Just and Durable Peace by Piece". In attendance were representatives from St Andrews University, Bath University, Uppsala University, Lund University and the Regional Centre for Conflict Prevention (Jordan).
Working papers have been published by the project, "Evaluating and Comparing Strategies of Peacebuilding and Transitional Justice" and "What will jus post bellum mean? Of old wine and new bottle". The papers are available from the project website.
The CHRC launched the policy paper "Just Peace? Peacebuilding and rule of law in Africa" on Monday 2nd March 2009 with a panel discussion hosted by the Royal African Society and SOAS. The paper provides lessons from the CHRC's forthcoming edited volume on rule of law in African countries emerging from violent conflict, funded by a British Academy larger grant. Please contact Johanna Herman for hard copies of the publication.
Chair: Chandra Lekha Sriram, Director, Centre on Human Rights in Conflict
Panel:
Stephen Brown, University of Ottawa, The Rule of Law and the Hidden Politics of Transitional Justice in Rwanda
Olga Martin-Ortega and Johanna Herman, Centre on Human Rights in Conflict, Too much, too soon? Exploring Rule of Law programming in Liberia
Sarah Maguire, Independent rule of law expert, Creating demand in Darfur - circling the square
Discussant: Ademola Abass, Brunel University School of Law
Rule of law promotion is common in a wide range of countries in Africa which are still in conflict, or are emerging from it. However, the speakers on this panel have identified a number of persistent shortcomings. Taken together, these shortcomings mean that, far from promoting a truly just peace for conflict-affected societies, rule of law promotion often has little meaning for the majority of the populations of such societies.
The CHRC thanks the British Academy for its support to the project and the reception.
Dr. Olga Martin-Ortega, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre, has written a chapter with Muzaffer Eroglu on "The European Corporate Responsibility Strategy: A Pole of Excellence?" in Jan Orbie and Lisa Tortell eds., The European Union and the Social Dimension of Globalization: How the EU influences the World, (Routledge, 2008). Further information available here.
Professor Sriram, Director of the CHRC, has written a chapter on "Conflict Mediation and the ICC: Challenges and Options for Pursuing Peace with Justice at the Regional Level" in Kai Ambos, Judith Large and Marieke Wierda eds., Building a Future on Peace and Justice: Studies on Transitional Justice, Peace and Development (Springer 2009). Further information and ordering available here.
Dr. Olga Martin-Ortega, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre, has written an article on "Business and Human Rights in Conflict" for Vol. 22(3), Fall 2008 of Ethics and International Affairs published by the Carnegie Council. an excerpt is available here.
The unsatisfactory results of the global fight against the growing phenomenon of terrorism have demonstrated the inadequacy of international legal tools to address this challenge efficiently. Ad hoc solutions have been developed by major key players such as the United Nations and the European Union, but the legitimacy under international law of actions undertaken by such organizations remains largely debatable, and so does the expansion of prerogatives of their executive organs. Nor are the measures adopted in the war on terror perceived as fully compatible with international human rights law guarantees. The CHRC held a seminar on 10th June on this matter with the aim to provide an interdisciplinary approach to these issues, gathering perspectives from scholars, practitioners, human rights activists. It sought to promote discussion of practicable solutions for ensuring the efficacy of the struggle against terrorism, while safeguarding the credibility of international action, and making counter-terrorism coherent with international law principles and human rights standards. The participants in this seminar where: Dr. Pete Fussey (Senior Lecturer in Criminology, School of Law, University of East London); Dr. Matthew Happold (Barrister, Reader, Law School, University of Hull); Prof. Bill Bowring (Barrister, Professor of Law, Birkbeck College, University of London); Dr. Fernando Val-Garijo (Assistant Professor, Department of Public International Law, UNED, School of Law, Madrid, Spain); John Strawson (Reader in Law, School of Law, University of East London); David Marrani (Lecturer in Public and Comparative Law, Department of Law, University of Essex); and Saleh Mamon (CAMPACC).
Extraordinary Rendition: Illegal Limbos, Legal Safeguards and International Responsibility by Dr. Fernando Val-Garijo.
Islam and the Politics of Terrorism: Aspects of the British Experience by John Strawson.
A report of this event can be found here.
The rise of the activity of non-state actors in the context of globalisation has brought important challenges for International law to provide the necessary instruments for the effective guarantee of human rights. Among these actors, multinational organisations have proven to be particularly powerful and their activities and working methods have had important impacts on the enjoyment of human rights.
In this monograph Dr. Olga Martin-Ortega explores the international responsibilities of multinational enterprises with regard to human rights from a legal perspective, but also considering the important social advances in this sense. In doing so the author undertakes a rigorous analysis of the socio-economic and political context in which this debate is taking place, as well as the initiatives to subject these entities to public international law standards.
This is done with a consideration of both the obligations of States and companies. The book contains a deep analysis of the instruments developed by intergovernmental organisations and their implementations mechanisms, the antecedents and attempts to redefine international criminal responsibility of corporate entities and the developments of civil liability for complicity in human rights abuses.
This book is published in Spanish, for more information and to order please visit the Bosch website.
In order to end armed conflict, and ensure that it does not recur, numerous tactics are used by national governments, the international community, and others engaged in conflict resolution. These tactics include amnesties, financial rewards, offers of inclusion in structures of power, and threats of reprisal and use of force, among myriad others. There is a thriving debate in the literature regarding the appropriate tactics and incentives for peace negotiations, as well as the peacebuilding processes promoted by the international community.
This book critically analyzes one key set of negotiation incentives used in peace agreements: inclusion of armed groups in structures of power. Though I loosely term these incentives as 'power-sharing', they are much broader than traditional power-sharing, and rely on explicit institutionalization of the state and the use of state institutions. These negotiation incentives can involve inclusion of previously excluded or outlawed groups as legitimate political parties, sharing of resources with such groups, inclusion of former combatants in reformed military or police forces, and offers of partial or complete autonomy. This approach is largely used to bring non-state armed groups into negotiations, rather than as leverage on governments themselves. The book, drawing upon studies in Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Colombia, demonstrates the limitations and even dangers of using such strategies.
For further information and to order please visit the Palgrave website.
From left to right: Jordi Palou-Loverdos,
Dr Víctor M. Sánchez, Professor Chandra Lekha Sriram,
Alun Jones QC and Michael Caplan QC.
On Wednesday 13th February 2008, the Centre hosted a panel on universal jurisdiction.
We were fortunate to have the following leading practitioners and experts as speakers:
Top row (left to right):
Professor Adrian Hyde-Price, Department of
European Studies and Modern Languages,
Bath University; Yasar Qatarneh, Director for
Regional Centre on Conflict Prevention, Jordan;
Professor Inger Österdahl, Director of the
Swedish Institute for International Law,Faculty
of Law, Uppsala University; Professor Chandra
Lekha Sriram, Director for Centre on Human
Rights in Conflict (CHRC), University of East London.
Bottom row (left to right):
Dr. Annika Björkdahl, Associate Professor, Dept of
Political Science, Lund University, Sweden; Johanna
Herman, Research Assistant, Centre on Human Rights
in Conflict (CHRC), University of East London;
Dr. Karin Aggestam, Associate Professor, Director for
Peace and Conflict Studies, Dept of Political Science,
Lund University, Sweden; Dr. Olga Martin-Ortega;
Research Fellow at the Centre on Human Rights in
Conflict (CHRC), University of East London;
Professor Oliver Richmond, Director of Centre for
Peace and Conflict Studies, St Andrews.
We have participated in a successful bid to the European Commission's Framework VII funding call as part of a bid led by the University of Lund. The bid, "Building a just and durable peace by piece," is a three-year project involving seven institutions: Lund, Uppsala, Hebrew University, Jordan Institute of Diplomacy, Bath, St. Andrews, and CHRC for UEL. The project began on the 1st February 2008.
This is a cross-cutting, policy-oriented research project addressing contemporary dilemmas of addressing peace and justice. The CHRC has the lead role in the Policies and Strategies element, which will develop relevant policy and academic papers, including guidance for assessing peacebuilding and transitional justice strategies. Further details about the project can be found on its homepage.
The Centre on Human Rights in Conflict is pleased to announce that Dr Carmen Draghici has joined us for a 12 month term as a Leverhulme Visiting Fellow.
Dr. Draghici is researching “The search for a fair balance between the imperative of national security and the protection of human rights in the recent caselaw of the European Courts concerning the ‘blacklists’ of alleged terrorists.” She will develop several publications and participate in CHRC activities and engage with faculty and students across UEL.
Dr. Draghici received her PhD in International Law and Human Rights from the University of Rome La Sapienza in 2007. She holds a Master Degree in International Relations, a B.Sc. in Political Science, and a B.A. in French and Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Bucharest. In 2006 she attended with scholarship the Summer Programme of the Hague Academy of International Law. She has worked as a tutor of European Union law for the Italian online University Telma, and collaborated with the chairs of international law, diplomatic and consular law, and international organisation of the University of Rome La Sapienza.
The Centre on Human Rights in Conflict held a seminar on Business and Human Rights in Conflict on 14 June 2007.
This seminar sought to explore the role of private sector in situations of armed conflict. The economic dimension of intrastate armed conflicts has gained unprecedented academic and policy attention in recent years. Many of today’s conflicts have close links with the exploitation of and trade in natural resources, with the revenues generated from such trade exercising significant influence over their character and duration. Companies, particularly multinational enterprises, are key actors in the exploitation and trade of natural resources in conflict zones and therefore could play an important role in both the perpetuation and the resolution of such conflicts.
The main objective of this seminar was to bring together the different perspectives of those working on the relationship between private sector activities and human rights, in particular the impact of business activities in conflict zones. Academics of different disciplines, civil society and advocacy groups, the business community, and government bodies and policy makers, often deal with these issues in relative isolation from each other. This seminar sought to contribute to a cross-sector dialogue and to identify areas for research and policy collaboration in this field. Details on the session, full list of participants and links to presentations are available from the Conferences, Workshops and Seminars page.
For any further information in relation to this seminar or the work of the Centre on business and human rights in conflict zones please contact Dr. Olga Martin-Ortega.
The inaugural lecture by Professor Chandra Sriram, Director of the Centre of Human Rights in Conflict took place on Tuesday 17th April 2007.
Professor Sriram's lecture "Globalising Justice for Mass Atrocities" examined the rapid development of international criminal accountability since the end of the Cold War, looking at conflict areas worldwide.
Professor Sriram's Paper
The Centre on Human Rights in Conflict is pleased to announce that it has been awarded funding for two years by the British Academy for a project entitled: Rule of Law in African Countries Emerging from Violent Conflict: Critical Issues and Cases. The
project will analyze and assess the needs of African countries emerging
from violent conflict, focusing upon the use of rule of law programs in
peacebuilding efforts.
The Centre proposed a multi-author series of policy papers, ranging from the general to the specific, by expert scholars in law, African politics, and conflict analysis. The papers will examine both the general challenges of rule of law programming post-conflict, and specific experiences in particular African countries, and in efforts in particular domains of ‘rule of law’, ranging from transitional justice to specific judicial reforms to the informal justice sector.
These papers will draw extensively upon the insights from both scholars and policymakers. Paper authors will thus include leading scholars of African politics and peacebuilding in the UK and the US, and leading practitioners working in the UN system and in UN field offices, as well as NGOs in Africa. The lessons learned from these papers should be of interest therefore to policymakers in the UN and bilateral donor governments such as the UK.
Critical findings from papers will be presented on the Centre’s website at http://www.uel.ac.uk/chrc/index.htm, and the Centre is exploring the publication of the papers in book form.
On Monday 29th January 2007, Professor Sriram was interviewed on the BBC radio programme, World Tonight, and examined the interests of China in the situation in Sudan.
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