Research Guide for the International Human Rights Program

Tips for Success

Know the legal framework for human rights in the country in which your organization works.
Read about the political, social, cultural, economic context of your organization, the country in which you will work.
Have a general understanding of international human rights law.
Find out about available general and specialized research resources.
Enable summer access on LexisNexis and Westlaw.
Remember you can always Ask-A-Law-Librarian!

Ask-A-Law-Librarian: http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/law/using/reference/ask.html

Lyonette Louis-Jacques: mailto:llou@midway.uchicago.edu

Bill Schwesig: mailto:was2@uchicago.edu

D'Angelo Law Library: http://www1.lib.uchicago.edu/e/law/index.php3

General Human Rights Resources

Thomas Buergenthal, Dinah Shelton & David P. Stewart, International Human Rights in a Nutshell (2002). D'Angelo Law, Permanent Reserve XXK3240.4.B842 2002

David Weissbrodt & Connie de la Vega, International Human Rights Law: An Introduction (2007). D'Angelo Law, Permanent Reserve XXK3240.W45 2007

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx

University of Minnesota Human Rights Library: http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/

ASIL Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law or ERG): International Human Rights: http://www.asil.org/humrts1.cfm

United Nations Documentation: Research Guide: Human Rights: http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/spechr.htm

Human Rights Treaties, Jurisprudence, Documents

Core International Human Rights Instruments (OHCHR): http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/index.htm#core

The United Nations Human Rights Treaties (by state, category, theme or subject matter such as health or women): http://www.bayefsky.com/

Electronic Information System for International Law (EISIL): International Human Rights, Basic Sources: Primary Documents: http://www.eisil.org/index.php?sid=438532391&cat=187&t=sub_pages

Human Rights Treaties and Jurisprudence (Northwestern selected resources): http://www.law.northwestern.edu/library/coursesupport/instructionalservices/instructionalmaterials/hrjurisprudence/

The Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS): http://proxy.uchicago.edu/login?url=http://documents.un.org/

Example

The Treatment Action Campaign (Cape Town, South Africa; advocates for right of access to life-saving treatment for people with HIV/AIDS and TB; access to affordable medicines; acts against unfair discrimination):

Human rights research is: complex, local, national, regional, international, interdisciplinary.

http://www.tac.org.za/community/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meam-RmTxkU

Books and Journal Articles

Peace Palace Library: http://www.ppl.nl/

Library Catalog: http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/h/1

Subject Searches:

Human Rights (see cross-references, sub-divisions)

Human Rights - Cases (...digests; also title keyword: jurisprudence, case-law)

Human Rights-Government policy-[country]

Human Rights - [region, i.e. America, Latin America]

Human Rights - [country]

[international human rights tribunal or instrument]

Civil Rights; Rule of Law; Justice, Administration of

Lens: http://lens.lib.uchicago.edu/

Search Terms:

Human Rights (see Facets, Call Number ranges, word cloud, MyDiscoveries)

Human Rights Africa

WorldCat: http://proxy.uchicago.edu/login?url=http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/h/worldcat

UNBISnet (the UN bibliographic information system): http://unbisnet.un.org/

Westlaw: http://proxy.uchicago.edu/login?url=http://www.lawschool.westlaw.com/ (journal databases and indexes - Legal Resource Index or LRI, Legal Journals Index - UK and Europe)

LexisNexis: http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/ (journal databases and indexes - Legal Resource Index or LRI)

LegalTrac: http://proxy.uchicago.edu/login?url=http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/chic89158

Project MUSE (full text of the Human Rights Quarterly): http://muse.jhu.edu.proxy.uchicago.edu/search?searchtype=advanced

Law Journals (full-text and indexes): http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/law/db/ej/

Non-Law (full-text journal databases, indexes, and abstracts): http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/law/db/indexes/

Country Reports/Factual Information

University of Chicago Human Rights Program (organization database, internship reports, former interns): http://humanrights.uchicago.edu/

U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/

ASIL ERG Links to Country Reports: http://www.asil.org/humrts1.cfm#SectionAA

UNHCR's Refworld: http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/refworld/rwmain

University of Minnesota's Human Rights Library

Asylum and Refugee Resources - Basic Country Conditions Research: http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/center/asylum/country_conditions.html
Country Research Bibliography: http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/center/asylum/cond_research.html

U.S. State Department's Travel Information - Country Specific Information: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html

U.S. Department of State

Trafficking in Persons Reports: http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/
Reports on International Religious Freedom: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/irf/rpt/index.htm

Amnesty International

Human Rights Reports By County and Topic: http://www.amnesty.org/en/human-rights
Research Library: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library
Annual Report 2008: http://thereport.amnesty.org/eng

Human Rights Watch Reports and Country Information: http://www.hrw.org/en/publications

Country of Origin Research (Immigration and Review Board of Canada): http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/research/origin_e.htm

Forced Migration Online's Regional Resources (University of Oxford's Department of Economic Development): http://www.forcedmigration.org/browse/regional/

The Protection Project - Human Rights Reports (trafficking in persons): http://www.protectionproject.org/human_rights_reports/index.htm

Asylumlaw.org's Case Support: http://asylumlaw.org/countries/

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) : http://www.refugees.org/article.aspx?id=2114&subm=19&ssm=29&area=About%20Refugees

News Sources

Westlaw

Directory > Business & News > News: World - lists databases of news information by continent/region
INTNP: Database of newspapers published outside of the U.S.
INTNEWS: Database includes English abstracts and English full-text of non-English language news sources.
WRLDNWSC: A newswire service of world news in Engish and translated into English. Updated daily.

LexisNexis: News & Business Tab > By Country & region

World News Connection: http://wnc.dialog.com.proxy.uchicago.edu/

Factiva: http://global.factiva.com.proxy.uchicago.edu/sb/default.aspx?NAPC=S&fcpil=en
Contains nearly 8,000 sources from 118 countries and 22 languages. Includes newswires, newspapers, magazines, tv and radio transcripts. Select "Sources" and then "Publications by Region" to limit by region or country.

Facts on File World News Digest: http://www.2facts.com/stories/digest-home-feature.asp

Internet Public Library (IPL) Newspapers Collection: http://www.ipl.org/div/news/

Keesing's World News Archives: http://www.keesings.com.proxy.uchicago.edu/

Google News: http://news.google.com/

Foreign Law

Full -Text

LexisNexis:
Legal materials for Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, EU, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Philippines, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, UK; EELEG (Eastern European Legal Texts in English translation)

Westlaw:
Legal materials for Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico (the Diario oficial (official gazette of laws)), the European Union, and the United Kingdom (Scotland, England and Wales)

World Legal Information Institute (WorldLII): http://www.worldlii.org/

Specialized Literature/Web Links

Asian Law Online (bibliographic database): http://alc.law.unimelb.edu.au//bibliography/

Asian Legal Information Institute (AsianLII)(China, India): http://www.asianlii.org/

Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII): http://www.austlii.edu.au/

Australian Human Rights Centre (AHRC): http://www.ahrcentre.org/

Australian Journal of Human Rights: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AJHR/

British and Irish Legal Information Institute (BAILII): http://www.bailii.org/

Commonwealth Legal Information Institute (CommLII): http://www.commonlii.org/

Southern African Legal Information Institute (SaFLII): http://www.saflii.org/

Finding Tools

Foreign Law Guide: http://proxy.uchicago.edu/login?url=http://foreignlawguide.com/

Globalex: http://www.nyulawglobal.org/Globalex/

LLRX.com: http://www.llrx.com/comparative_and_foreign_law.html

Global Legal Information Network (GLIN): http://www.glin.gov/

Foreign Law Research Guide (country-by-country grid): http://www.law.yale.edu/library/countries.asp

Basic Guide to Researching Foreign Law (Mary Rumsey): http://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/Foreign_Law_Research1.htm

CALS Asylum Case Research: http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/guides/CALSAsylumLawResearchGuide.cfm

Guide to Country Research for Refugee Status Determination: http://www.llrx.com/features/rsd2.htm

International Law

Resources

HeinOnline Treaties and International Agreements Library: http://www.heinonline.org.proxy.uchicago.edu/HOL/Index?collection=ustreaties

HeinOnline Foreign and International Law Resources Databases: http://www.heinonline.org.proxy.uchicago.edu/HOL/Index?collection=intyb&set_as_cursor=clear

United States Treaty Collection (UNTS, LNTS): http://treaties.un.org/

Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General (status of treaties): http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ParticipationStatus.aspx

WESTLAW: http://lawschool.westlaw.com/

LexisNexis: http://lawschool.lexis.com/

Electronic Information System for International Law (EISIL): http://eisil.org/

Australian Treaties Database: http://www.info.dfat.gov.au/treaties/

International Courts and Tribunals Library: http://www.worldlii.org/int/cases/

Research Guides

ASIL Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law (ERG): http://www.asil.org/resource/home.htm

Researching International Law on the Internet: http://www.asil.org/resource/ergintr1.htm

Marci B. Hoffman & Robert C. Berring, International Legal Research in a Nutshell (2008) D'Angelo Law, Permanent Reserve XXKZ1234.H644 2008

Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations: http://www.legalabbrevs.cardiff.ac.uk/

AccessUN: http://proxy.uchicago.edu/login?url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/

Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO): http://proxy.uchicago.edu/login?url=http://www.ciaonet.org/

Foreign and International Law Resources (U of C): http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/law/db/ref/FCIL.html

Research Guides By Subject (A-Z listing): http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/