Human Rights

Just Security’s expert authors offer in-depth analysis on critical human rights challenges, including those related to armed conflict, emerging technologies, abuses by authoritarian governments, repression of human rights advocates and independent media, human rights litigation, racial justice, gender equality, and more.

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The Surprisingly Broad Implications of Nestlé USA, Inc. v. Doe for Human Rights Litigation and Extraterritoriality

In Nestlé USA, Inc. v. Doe, the U.S. Supreme Court took up the question of corporate liability for human rights violations under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) for the third time.…
Migrants and refugees, some wearing facemasks for protective measures, queue in a makeshift camp next to the Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.

Refugee Responsibility Sharing or Responsibility Dumping?

World Refugee Day is an opportunity to focus attention on one of the most pressing refugee law and policy challenges: almost 9 out of 10 refugees are hosted in developing countries.…
Somali refugees who recently crossed the border from Somalia into southern Ethiopia gather between two food tents as they wait to be called to collect food aid at the Kobe refugee camp on July 19, 2011.

UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy and Humanitarian Action: A Case for Saving Lives

Counterterrorism measures are increasingly restricting humanitarian action, negatively impacting aid delivery, and posing security and legal risks to humanitarian actors and their…
A human rights activist, dressed to resemble the now famous Abu Ghraib prison photo depicting an Iraqi prisoner being tortured, stands on a street corner during rush hour in front of the US Department of Justice 22 February 2005 in Washington, DC.

How the Biden Administration Should Take Torture-Derived Evidence Off the Table

In a decent legal system, the government does not ask courts to admit evidence derived from torture, nor does it press other arguments that disregard the absolute prohibition on…
A dark room with a table, chairs, and a camera on a tripod. A briefcase and photographs are spread out on the table.

The Méndez Principles: Sharpening the View on Interrogation and Utilitarianism

Philosopher-jurist Jeremy Bentham's “ticking bomb scenario,” often cited to justify torture, has spawned wild misconceptions.
Students wait outside classrooms in Sittwe, capital of western Rakhine State on June 1, 2021. Barbed wire separates the photographer and the students.

Beyond the Coup in Myanmar: Don’t Let the Light of Education Be Extinguished

Educational reforms in Myanmar were derailed first by COVID, then by the coup. A local teacher explains the consequences, and how the international community can support education…
An American flag hangs on a wall behind barbed wire.

State Secrets and the Torture of Abu Zubaydah

More than any case to have reached the Supreme Court, Abu Zubaydah’s case demonstrates the need to carefully scrutinize what information the Executive Branch can legitimately…
A gate with the United Nations seal in front of the UN headquarters in New York City.

Time for a Course Correction on Counterterrorism and Civic Space

A defining feature of the U.N. counterterrorism eco-system is its lack of openness to outside expertise and civil society voices.
Marines grab a blindfolded Japanese prisoner of war while disembarking from a submarine returned from war patrol.

The Méndez Principles: Building Rapport and Trust in Interrogations to Elicit Reliable Information

The demonstrated effectiveness of evidence-based methods strengthens the argument against torture and ill-treatment.
A protester wearing a facemask as protection from the coronavirus takes part in a protest over the newly approved anti-terror law on July 4, 2020 in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines. The protestor carries a sign reading, “Resist Terror Law! – Spark” and raises a fist in the air. Other protestors in the background also carry signs and wear face masks.

Opening Pandora’s Box: New “Threats” in the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

How should the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy respond to “new threats” of “terrorism"?
Two adults and a number of children take temporary shelter under cloth tents at a market in Mihtarlam, the capital of Laghman Province on May 24, 2021. They have been displaced due to fighting between Taliban and Afghan forces.

Afghanistan is Facing a Humanitarian Crisis. The US Must Help.

Next week’s high-level summits in Europe provide important opportunities for the international community to start planning for the coming instability in Afghanistan.
Lt. Gen. John Kimmons, U.S. Army, holds up a copy of the Army Field Manual, FM 2-22.3, Human Intelligence Collector Operations as he briefs reporters on the details of the manual in the Pentagon on Sept. 6, 2006.

The Méndez Principles: The Need to Update the Army Field Manual on Interrogation for the 21st Century

Defense Secretary Austin should convene an expert panel to ensure that methods used are informed by current science.
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