Expanding the International Human Rights Research Agenda

Abstract

A review of research in international human rights suggests an expanded agenda for scholars in several disciplines. The vast literature on human rights activities of the UN and regional systems is primarily descriptive or devoted to legal analysis. Ten research needs are identified. First, empirical research is suggested to ascertain to what extent the major international instruments for the protection of human rights reflect conceptions of rights which are shared by mankind as a whole. Second, it is suggested that obstacles to the implementation of human rights be analyzed to identify ideologically neutral rights and to test hypotheses about the relation between economic/social and civil/political rights. A third set of studies concerns the use of public opinion to improve human rights conditions. Closely connected (and badly needed) is research on a fourth topic, the role of education in promoting respect for human rights—especially its most effective timing and sequencing of topics. Fifth, because the balance of prior work on technological advances has concerned their potential threat to human rights, further study is needed of the ways to utilize them positively. Sixth, the potential of national human rights commissions for expanded work on the international dimensions of human rights should be studied. A seventh topic concerns the effectiveness of various enforcement techniques—adjudication, conciliation, fact finding, and reporting. Eighth, research attention should be devoted to the study of the interaction between the UN, specialized agencies and regional agencies, as well as governmental and nongovernmental organizations. Ninth, cases where international action is known to have brought about an improvement in conditions should be analyzed and compared to other cases where such action has not been effective. Finally, it is suggested that researchers assess the role of nongovernmental organizations, especially in protecting the human rights of specialized groups.