Human Rights at Home Blog

Student Note: How the Grand Jury Process Diminishes Black Lives by Supporting Police Brutality and Racism

Kaeleigh Williams, How the Grand Jury Process Diminishes Black Lives by Supporting Police Brutality and Racism (2022). Abstract below.

Although the topic of police brutality and the need for police reform has been a popular topic of debate in recent years, the problem of police brutality is nothing new in the U.S. In the U.S, the harsh reality is that the problem of police brutality against Black people goes far beyond the highly publicized incidents. Police officers disproportionately kill Black people in America with impunity because our system of policing encourages such violence, and our legal system protects the use of such violence.  

This Note focuses on the problem of Black lives being unjustly taken by police officers and how there are very few instances where the police officers involved are charged for the deaths in these cases, let alone held accountable for their actions. Specifically focusing on the grand jury process and its downfalls, this Note argues that the grand jury process should not be used in cases of police brutality. Lastly, it calls for action from everyone, especially players in the legal system, in which everyone takes a stand against the problem of police brutality against Black people and understand that Black lives matter.  

Download Student Note (K. Williams)

Event 4/28: Data bias in health research: towards a comprehensive human rights framework

On April 28, 2022, from 12:45 – 2:10 PM ET, the Northeastern Law Center for Health Policy and Law and the Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy (PHRGE) will host an online event titled “Data bias in health research: towards a comprehensive human rights framework” with speaker Katharina Ó Cathaoir, Associate Professor in Law, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law.

Politically and in scientific communities, there is increasing recognition that medicine can be biased. One cause is data gaps; with less clinical research on women, children, certain ethnic groups and older people, the medications and treatments offered sometimes do not achieve the intended clinical result because they have not been tested on a representative group. There is a risk that such biases and data gaps will be amplified through data driven medicine if artificial intelligence replicates existing biases. The talk will evaluate how the EU legal framework governing processing of health data accounts for the need to prevent and remediate biases focused on collection and use of health data for scientific research purposes using a human rights lens.

Join the event by clicking here (no pre-registration required): https://northeastern.zoom.us/j/93295781956

Event 4/26: Current Human Rights Developments and Challenges in the World: A conversation with Michelle Bachelet

On Tuesday April 26, 2022, at 9am ET, the American Society of International Law's Human Rights Interest Group will hold the next event of their series "Human Rights Talks", in which the presidents or heads of regional and universal human rights bodies are invited for keynote speeches and conversations on current human rights developments and challenges, and on the response from the institutions that they lead. This event will focus on the Universal System of Human Rights. Some of the important current human rights topics in the world include Peace and Security, Development, Non-Discrimination and Accountability.

During this online event, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will refer to the main current human rights developments and challenges in the world, and to the response of her office, in terms of priorities and work plan.

Keynote Speaker:

• Honorable Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Interviewer:

• Professor and Dean Emeritus Claudio Grossman, Member of the United Nations International Law Commission

This session is organized by ASIL’s Human Rights Interest Group and co-sponsored by the Government Attorneys, Migration Law, Transitional Justice and Rule of Law, and Women in International Law Interest Groups.

For more information and to register for this online event, visit: https://www.asil.org/event/current-human-rights-developments-and-challenges-world-conversation-michelle-bachelet-united

New Article: Funding Global Governance

Kristina B. Daugirdas, Funding Global Governance, Law & Economics Working Papers. 216 (Oct. 1, 2021). Abstract below.

Funding is an oft-overlooked but critically important determinant of what public institutions are able to accomplish. This article focuses on the growing role of earmarked voluntary contributions from member states in funding formal international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Heavy reliance on such funds can erode the multilateral governance of international organizations and poses particular risks for two kinds of undertakings: normative work, such as setting standards and identifying best practices; and evaluating the conduct of member states and holding those states accountable, including through public criticism, when they fall short. International organizations have devised strategies for mitigating these risks, but those strategies are generally not codified in formal policies and are not visible to the public. This Article argues that more formal regulations are needed and outlines some possibilities for the form they might take.

April-May 2022 Deadlines: Calls for Inputs by UN Human Rights Mechanisms

The following calls for inputs have been issued by UN Human Rights Mechanisms with deadlines in April-May 2022 and law professors whose practice, research, and/or scholarship touches on these topics may be interested in submission:

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – Call for input to report on Local Government and Human Rights. Deadline April 6, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material – Call for input on addressing the vulnerabilities of children to the sale and sexual exploitation in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. Deadline April 8, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur on the right to food – Call for input on the impact of COVID-19 on the right to food. Deadline April 8, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples – Call for input on protected areas and Indigenous Peoples’ rights: the obligations of States and International Organizations. Deadline April 13, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples – Call for inputs on Indigenous Women and the development, application, preservation and transmission of scientific knowledge. Deadline April 13, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants – Call for inputs on the impact of climate change and the protection of the human rights of migrant. Deadline April 14, 2022. Read more.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – Call for input on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN. Deadline April 15, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights – Call for submissions on the role of public works programs and other public job-guaranteeing schemes to combat unemployment and satisfy societal needs, as well as to contribute to the economic empowerment of women. Deadline April 15, 2022. Read more.

Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination – Call for inputs on report on Maritime Security. Deadline April 15, 2022. Read more.

Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity – Call for inputs on visit to the United States of America scheduled to take place from 15 to 26 August 2022. Deadline April 15, 2022. Read more.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – Call for inputs on the impact of arms transfers on human rights. Deadline April 15, 2022. Read more.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – Call for inputs on the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officer. Deadline April 18, 2022. Read more.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – Call for inputs on countering disinformation for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Deadline April 18, 2022. Read more.

Secretary General – Call for inputs on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. Deadline April 22, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes – Call for input on the impact of toxics on indigenous peoples. Deadline April 25, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights – Call for inputs on cultural rights and sustainable development. Deadline April 27, 2022. Read more.

Human Rights Council Advisory Committee – Call for inputs on impact of new technologies for climate protection on the enjoyment of human rights. Deadline April 29, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions – Call for input on the imposition of the death penalty and its impact. Deadline April 29, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights – Call for inputs on sanctions and human rights. Deadline May 2, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children – Call for inputs on trafficking of persons in the context of climate change. Deadline May 12, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities – Call for inputs on armed conflict and disability – the conduct of hostilities, military operations and peacekeeping operations. Deadline May 15, 2022. Read more.

Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment – Call for inputs on human rights, transformative actions and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Deadline May 15, 2022. Read more.

Intergovernmental Working Group on the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action – Call for inputs on the UN General Assembly’s global call for concrete action for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Deadline May 16, 2022. Read more.

Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent – Call for inputs on the human rights situation of Children of African descent. Deadline May 16, 2022. Read more.

This information was compiled from https://www.ohchr.org/en/calls-for-input-listing.

Event 4/7: Ukraine's Refugee Crisis: The Faces of War

The world is witnessing the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since WW II as millions of refugees are streaming from Ukraine into neighboring countries. These refugees are crossing into Poland, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, and Romania. Soon other countries, including the U.S., will be receiving these refugees.

This webinar will deal with these issues as well as resettlement and many other issues associated with this tragic migration. Most of us have witnessed the painful faces of these women and children on the news. The numbers may be great but each person has an individual story that began with a normal life before the invasion by Russia. These people of Ukraine are demonstrating tremendous courage and we should not lose sight of this. In this webinar, you will hear from leading voices who know of this crisis and will share with you their perspective. This is a fluid situation that is changing daily. However, the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice's Rights of Immigrants Committee felt that the urgent situation in Ukraine demanded that they bring you this Webinar as quickly as they could. 

Panelists:

• Reginald M. Turner, Jr. – President, American Bar Association
• Alesya Pavlynska – Counsel, Arzinger
• Anna Ogrenchuk – President, Ukrainian Bar Association
• Inna Liniova – CEO, Ukrainian Bar Association
• Craig Redmond – Senior Vice-President of Programs, Mercy Corps
• Smita Dazzo – Senior Director, Legal & Asylum, HIAS
• Brian J. Egan – Partner, National Security, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
• Jill Marie Bussey – Director for Public Policy, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services
• Magdalena Paszkiewicz – Advisor & Media Contact, Polish Foundation Mum in the City of Kielce
• Richard Pena – President and CEO, Law Offices of Richard Pena, P.C.

This ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Webinar will take place on Thursday, April 7th from 2:00 pm-4:00 pm Eastern Time.

To register for this complimentary event, click here.