About the thematic group
This thematic group will focus on the domestic impact of international and regional human rights instruments and mechanisms. The human rights instruments of interest for this thematic group fall under three broad categories: 1) the nine core UN human rights treaties; 2) the three regional human rights treaties; and, 3) important human rights resolutions or instruments, especially the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants (UNDROP) and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP). While the main research interest lies with exploring the domestic impact of the nine core UN human rights treaties, regional human rights treaties and significant ‘soft-law’ instruments and related Special Procedures will also be explored.
The thematic group will also look into the domestic impact of regional and international human rights law and mechanisms in Norway. The main focus will be on Norway’s engagement with UN human rights treaty bodies, decisions on individual complaints brought before these bodies, and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. The thematic group will cooperate with various actors involved, including the Norwegian Human Rights Institution (NIM).
Planned activities of the thematic group
The educational and research activities planned reflect the focus of the thematic group. There will be two workshops, namely in 2024 and in 2026, and a major conference leading to a publication in the spring 2025. The spring 2025 conference will be based on a call for papers and invited speakers. The larger events, namely the 2024 workshop, and the spring 2025 conference are connected to the Utforsk project, led by Gentian Zyberi, and are part of a larger cooperation with the Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria, aimed at strengthening international cooperation by the Faculty of Law. The thematic group will meet 3-4 times a year, to discuss work-in-progress, recent key publications, or important international, regional, or national developments in Norway or other countries.
Primary members
Associate members
- Siena Sofia Magdalena Anstis
- Silvia Gagliardi
- Bård A. Andreassen
- Jakob Elster
- Elsabe Boshoff
- Anna Maria Charlotta Lundberg
- Natalia Torres Zuniga
- Nina Reiners
- Peris Sean Jones
- Helge Årsheim
- Stian Øby Johansen
- Kjetil Mujezinovic Larsen
- Aksel Tømte
- Özlem Gürakar-Skribeland
This thematic group is led by Gentian Zyberi.
Duration
The thematic group is expected to operate for a period of three years, namely January 2024 –December 2026.