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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).

Fast facts

  • focus on public international law, criminal law, criminology, and social sciences
  • close attention to gender issues
  • established in 1993 by prof. Theo van Boven, former director of UN Division for Human Rights, and prof. Cees Flinterman
  • all 25 members invest research capacity in human rights subjects, next to their teaching responsibilities
  • led by Prof. Fons Coomans

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

Blogs

Maastricht Centre for Human Rights​ introduction

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

 

 

Events

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

News

  • Mark Kawakami in his kitchen

    Traditions with an aftertaste

    Wednesday, March 31, 2021

    A peek inside the kitchen of Mark Kawakami. Mark, assistant professor of Private Law, grew up in Japan and Hawaii. Omotenashi, Japanese hospitality, was drilled into him from an early age, but when it comes to food, he prefers the spicy cuisines of Thailand or Mexico to that of Japan.

    Read more
  • Dr Christopher Heath

    Appointment of dr. Christopher Heath as endowed chair Intellectual Property Foundations, Institutions and Adjudication

    Tuesday, March 9, 2021

    As per 1 March 2021, dr. Christopher Heath has been appointed as professor on the endowed chair of Intellectual Property Foundations, Institutions and Adjudication. 

    Read more
  • fiscale_kwalificatie_buitenlandse_socialezekerheidstelsels.png

    ITEM focal point taken up: addition to Dutch qualification policy for German social insurance schemes

    Wednesday, February 17, 2021

    The Dutch Ministry of Finance has updated the guideline on the tax qualification policy of foreign social security schemes. According to expertise centre ITEM, the addition concerning certain German social insurances is a positive development, which is in line with their vision and commitment in respect of cross-border pension regulations. The tax treatment of, among others, liberal professions and professional soldiers is addressed.

    Read more

  • Matteo Bonelli won the UM Dissertation Prize

    Friday, February 5, 2021

    Dr Matteo Bonelli has become the winner of the UM Dissertation Prize for his thesis "A Union of Values: Safeguarding Democracy, the Rule of Law and Human Rights in the EU Member States". 

    Read more

  • La protection des transports de marchandises par mer en droit ivoirien

    Tuesday, February 2, 2021

    PhD thesis written by Yapo Firmin AKA.

    Read more
  • law_annual_review_fdr 2020

    Looking back at 2020 with our LAW annual review: read more about innovative education and our impact on society

    Thursday, January 21, 2021

    Perhaps you might come to the conclusion that in 2020, because of corona, time stood still in our law faculty. Despite setbacks and start-up problems - after all, everything and everyone had to switch to online within a short period of time - a lot of positive things happened last year.

    Read more
  • ayoub

    Judicial activism and restraint in the creation of the International Judicial Function

    Monday, January 18, 2021

    PhD thesis written by Leonie Ayoub.
    The thesis attempts to bring coherence to the manner in which international courts and tribunals interpret international law, how they reason out their decisions, and the subsequent effect that this has had upon the institutions themselves.

    Read more
  • maegerman

    Facilitating falsification in legal decision-making: problems in practice and potential solutions

    Thursday, January 14, 2021

    PhD thesis written by Enide Maegherman.
    This thesis researched the role of falsification in legal decision-making. Namely, how judges consider exonerating evidence and alternative scenarios. This was researched in practice through a survey, interviews, and a case study.

    Read more
  • Law_bachelor_rechtsgeleerdheid

    Going ‘back to our core DNA’ with new curriculum for the bachelor’s in Law

    Tuesday, January 5, 2021

    It was a long-held desire: redesigning the curriculum for the bachelor's programme in Rechtsgeleerdheid (Law).' It is a return to the thematic approach, but in a 21st century context. There are no more short cases, but one big project per semester that involves the different types of law. After two years of planning and designing the curriculum, it finally went from the drawing board to the (virtual) classroom in August 2020. Bram Akkermans, associate professor and project leader of the curriculum redesign: “Now, colouring in the picture has begun. And fortunately—befitting of an unconventional faculty—colouring is also being done outside the lines.”

    Read more
  • banner_survey_2021.png

    Survey - ITEM Cross-Border Impact Assessment 2021

    Friday, December 18, 2020

    The consultation round on the upcoming ITEM Cross-Border Impact Assessment 2021 is herewith launched! Grab the opportunity to share your experiences with ITEM! Dossier suggestions can be made up to and including 18 January 2021.

    Read more

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.

 

The Subversives: Van Boven at the UN

Video: Trailer for The Subversives, a documentary about van Theo van Boven's time at the UN.

 

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