Maastricht Centre for Human Rights
Research institutes

Maastricht Centre for Human Rights

The Maastricht Centre for Human Rights facilitates and supports research in the field of human rights at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Law. Research conducted at the centre is interdisciplinary, with a focus on public international law, criminal law, criminology and other relevant social sciences. The centre favours research themes that contribute to a better society within the context of the process of globalisation and that raise fundamental questions about human rights (as opposed to mere technicalities).

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Research

The centre has two research programmes: Globalisation and Human Rights and Criminal Law and Criminology in an International Context. Research conducted within the centre takes a normative approach, reflecting an integrated view of economic, social and cultural rights on the one hand and civil and political rights on the other, with close attention being given to gender issues and rights of persons with disabilities.

 Visit MCfHR's research

MCfHR’s research mainly takes place
in the following Faculty research pillar:

1. Global Justice

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

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  You can find our episodes on:

 YouTube

News

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Blogs

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Events

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  • 20 Jun 27 Oct
    09:00 - 17:00

    ICON-S BENELUX Chapter Inaugural Conference

    CALL FOR PAPERS
    Crises, Challenges, and the Future of Public Law
     

    The newly founded ICON-S Benelux Chapter will organize its Inaugural Conference on 26-27 October 2023. The conference will take place in Maastricht (NL), hosted by Maastricht University - Faculty of Law, with a fully in-person program of panels and keynote sessions. The overarching theme of the conference is Crises, Challenges, and the Future of Public Law.

  • 20 Jun
    14:00 - 15:30

    MCEL Seminars

    The activities of the centre include regular organisation of academic conferences and workshops, as well as monthly research seminars to which high-level speakers are invited to discuss a specific topic in the field of EU law. 

  • 21 Jun 31 Dec
    11:00 - 12:30

    Globalization & Law Network Seminar Series

    The Globalization & Law Network is composed by a group of researchers of Maastricht University, coming from different backgrounds, who study the role that law plays in a globalizing society from a holistic perspective.

  • 21 Jun
    16:00 - 18:00

    Maastricht Foundations of Law Colloquia

    Dr. Tamar de Waal, Associate Professor Legal Philosophy and Citizenship at the University of Amsterdam - Title: Unconditional Belonging: the case for welcoming refugees as if they will stay

  • 22 Jun 23 Jun
    09:00 - 16:30

    COMIPinDigiMarkts2023

    Sustainable & Digital Competition on the Merits:  A Comparative and Interdisciplinary Perspective

     

  • 23 Jun
    10:00 - 16:00

    Graduation Ceremonies

    Graduation Ceremonies for Masters

     

  • 26 Jun 30 Jun
    00:00

    CLEER Summer School 2023

    8th CLEER Summer School on the Law of EU External Relations

Maastricht Centre for Human Rights​ introduction

This short introduction tells about the interdisciplinary character of the centre for human rights​.
 

 


 

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.