Latest blog articles

  • A system of universal values, applicable to all human beings

    Universality is the idea that universal facts exist and can be progressively discovered, whereas relativism denies the existence of universal facts. It follows that universality presupposes a system of universal values applicable to all human beings, which is denied by relativism.

    Blog Manfred Nowak Human Rights
  • If the glove does not fit, you must acquit

    Those of you who were old enough to follow news headlines in the 90’s will probably remember this quote. For those of you who don’t: it is a famous phrase used by the defence team of O.J. Simpson in an – as would later turn out: successful – attempt to convince the jury of O.J.’s innocence.

    Blog OJ Simpson - reasonable doubt
  • How do you counter the denial of the Genocide against the Tutsi?

    25 years after the Genocide Against the Tutsi, the denial of this genocide still poses a serious challenge to prevention and reconciliation. How to address this problem was one of the central questions discussed during a recent commemorative conference in the Peace Palace.

    Nature-reserve blog genocide Tutsi
  • WHO fair pricing forum: watching for drug industry accountability

    Expensive medicines are a ubiquitous challenge from which no government is immune. Excessive price hikes are an urgent human rights issue with serious ramifications for public health. One such example is that of Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), a breakthrough medicine that can...

    World medicine blog Jennifer Sellin
  • When states elect the experts: the case of the UN Human Rights treaty bodies

    UN treaty bodies are committees of independent experts in charge of monitoring state compliance with the major UN human rights treaties. Yet, how far are these committee members truly expert and independent from their home governments, considering that they are nominated and elected by states?

     ...
    Blog When States Elect the Experts: The Case of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies
  • At the MSP, you’re not just a number.

    At the MSP, you’re not just a number. We try to create an environment for students where you feel heard, where you feel safe and where you can work on becoming the best version of yourself—whatever you want to do in the future.

    Brigitte_Giezenaar
  • Researching with students is my passion

    I love introducing students to the world of research and seeing them light up and enjoy themselves while learning to produce publishable work. For me, the key to being a true educator is to simulate the professional world as closely as possible and give students a taste of what lies beyond their...

    Bart van Grinsven
  • Universalism vs. relativism: human rights for homosexuals in Africa

    This post opines that the universalist/relativist debate on human rights is not as divisive as it initially seems – rather than to undermine universalism in its entirety, cultural relativism serves as a reminder to constantly re-evaluate our assumptions on human rights to promote inclusivity.

    Universality vs. relativism blog
  • Human rights for righteous humans

    The debate around the universality of human rights is legitimate and long-lasting. While most people instantly think of cultural and religious relativity, invoking the sharia and indigenous traditions as obstacles to universality, new forms of questioning universality - and even human rights in...

    Blog Diego Fallah student blog