Maastricht Centre for Human Rights
The Maastricht Centre for Human Rights (MCfHR) is based at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Law in the Netherlands. The Centre brings together researchers from law and other disciplines to conduct cutting-edge human rights research, ranging from doctrinal analysis to empirical and policy-oriented work. Our mission is to generate rigorous scholarship that informs courts, policymakers, civil society, academia, and the wider public.
MCfHR plays a central role in standard-setting through guidelines and principles developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. We organise student-focused events on a broad range of human rights issues and contribute to teaching and supervision at Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctoral levels. The Centre serves as a hub for research that is doctrinal and applied, and often interdisciplinary in nature, engaging regional and international institutions, NGOs, and professional networks. Through publications, public engagement, and partnerships, MCfHR supports scholarship that addresses contemporary human rights challenges.
Research
Currently the MCfHR focuses on the following three areas of research:
Regional human rights systems & comparative human rights law (we compare how courts and UN bodies interpret rights and how domestic, regional, and international jurisprudence cross-fertilise);
Human rights, non-discrimination & inclusion (we address unjustified differential treatment, focusing on disability participation, women’s rights, socio-economic rights, and intersectional equality across national, EU, and international levels); and
- Human rights, conflict & transitional justice (we study IHL, international criminal law, use of force, prosecutions, and victim remedies to advance accountability, reconciliation, and prevention).
MCfHR’s research mainly takes place
in the following Faculty research stream:
Let's talk human rights
Human rights issues affect us all. But sometimes there can be an unfortunate disconnect between the human rights research that goes on in universities, and the rest of the world. Let’s Talk Human Rights is a video and podcast series which aims to bridge that gap. We interview human rights experts at one of the primary hubs of human rights research in the Netherlands, the Maastricht Centre for Human Rights, in order to open a window to show what is actually happening in human rights research today. We discuss pressing issues, from human rights and social media to the rights of disabled persons.
We also talk to the researchers about themselves, their projects, and their research journey. Focusing mainly on early career researchers, we cast a light not only on human rights law and how it works, but also on what it means to be a human rights researcher.
Read more about our Let's Talk Human Rights initiative
You can find our episodes on
News
Contribute to a Voice for Children in Conflict Areas
- Researchers
Meet the Maastricht Centre for Human Rights
Celebrating 10 Years of Shelter City Maastricht
Protecting children’s rights in non-existent states
Andrés Caceres Solari on No room for Human Rights in Gaza and Ukraine: How the Law Legitimizes Urban Devastation
Blogs
Celebrating Children’s Rights Research at Maastricht University: A Day of Discovery and Inspiration
- Law
For most children in the Netherlands, December 5th is a magical day as they eagerly await the arrival of Saint Nicholas, bringing gifts and joy to their homes. This year, the festivities were not limited to children’s doorsteps. On the same day, Maastricht University (UM) hosted its Children’s Rights Research Day, offering a platform to showcase groundbreaking research on children’s rights.
Before the World Court: What Is at Stake in the Advisory Proceedings on Israel’s Obligations in Relation to the United Nations and Other Actors in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Law
This explainer provides essential context on the ICJ’s advisory opinion request on Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The hearings, scheduled from Monday, 28 April 2025 to 2 May 2025, will be live-streamed at the Law Café of the Faculty of Law, Maastricht University.
Two Weeks, Countless Voices: Explaining the ICJ’s Unprecedented Hearings on Climate Obligations
- Law
This explainer provides essential context on the ICJ’s advisory opinion request on states’ climate obligations. The hearings, scheduled from 2 to 13 December 2024, will be live-streamed at the Law Café of the Faculty of Law, Maastricht University.
The rights of invisible children
- Law
My dissertation was about the applicability of international children’s (human) rights to children living in Somaliland, an unrecognised state. Moreover, I studied how national laws protect children’s rights in Somaliland.
The EU’s race to the bottom on asylum seekers’ rights
- Law
Throughout the EU, the rights of asylum seekers come under pressure. Overdue policy changes remain stuck in negotiations because of lacking political will. It is up to the European Commission to step up and protect the fundamental rights of asylum seekers.
Events
Maastricht Centre for Human Rights introduction
This short introduction tells about the interdisciplinary character of the centre for human rights.
Maastricht Centre for Human Rights past events
Read about the Maastricht Centre for Human Rights past key events:
- Human Rights beyond borders conference
- 30 years Limburg principles and migrationy
- Theo van Boven lecture 2016
Human Rights beyond borders conference
The etoconsortium.org, together with MCfHR and FIAN International organized a conference in September 2017. The meeting brought together 45 academics, representatives of human rights NGOs, civil society organisations and human rights practitioners. They analysed the human rights beyond border dimensions of issues in policy fields such as debt and austerity; climate and ecology; financial capture and land grabbing, the regulation of transnational corporations; investment and trade.
30 years Limburg principles and migrationy
Conference ESC rights and migration. In June 1986 a group of distinguished experts in int. (human rights) law convened in Maastricht, to deliberate the nature and scope of state parties’ obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). This meeting resulted in the agreement and adoption of the so-called Limburg Principles. In light of the 30th anniversary of these, MCfHR organised a conference in December 2016, in the area of ESC rights and migration.
More information on the ESC conference
Theo van Boven lecture 2016
Each year, the Maastricht Centre for Human Rights organises a lecture to honour one of the centre's co-founders and former Director of the United Nations Division of Human Rights (1977-1982) Theo van Boven. This year's lecture was combined with the conference (1-2 December 2016) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Limburg Principles. Prof. Philip Alston delivered a keynote speech on 1st December '16.
More information on the lecture
The Subversives
Documentary about the life of one of the most important advocates of human rights. Theo van Boven, a former Director of the United Nations Division of Human Rights (1977-1982), was among the first to defend international human rights responsibilities with courage and openness. He came face-to-face with some of the most repressive regimes of the 20th century. This documentary details the dramatic journey of Theo van Boven and his team, and their struggle to bring justice and change to the UN.
Video: Trailer for The Subversives, a documentary about van Theo van Boven's time at the UN.