Reflections on the 10th Anniversary of the Journal of International Human Rights
by Angela Walker*
Ten years ago, when Northwestern University’s Journal of International Human Rights (JIHR) was born, human rights rarely captured the headlines, much less the legal debate. Much has changed. Human rights struggles in Tibet, China, Colombia, Mexico, the Middle East and North Africa have seized the international community’s attention. Today, JIHR’s publications are more relevant and timely than ever.
Founded for the purpose of promoting the discussion of international human rights law, this award-winning journal has advanced the protection of human rights around the world. JIHR has published high profile authors ranging from distinguished professors, such as M. Cherif Bassiouni, the world’s leading authority on international criminal law, and David Scheffer, former U.S. Ambassador at Large for War Crimes; to Colonel Mukul Saxena of the Indian Army (The Sikh Regiment in Kashmir); to Richard Williamson, former U.S. Representative to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights; to Judge Wolfgang Schomburg of the Appeals Chambers of the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.
JIHR is widely known for its Atrocity Crimes Litigation Year-in-Review publication, which highlights the latest developments in international criminal law and is subscribed to by leading judges, attorneys, and scholars around the world. The publication features the annual Atrocity Crimes Litigation Year-in-Review Conference, convened by the Center for International Human Rights at Northwestern University School of Law, where tribunal registrars, prosecutors, defense counsel, and scholars examine the practice and jurisprudence of international tribunals over the previous year, and postulate on future developments. No other law school journal publishes an issue of this character.
The articles JIHR has published go beyond the field of international criminal law and have affected discourse on subjects that range from “State Obligations Regarding Domestic Violence” to “Designing More Effective Laws Against Human Trafficking” to “The Growing Relevance and Enforceability of Corporate Human Rights Responsibility.” Lastly, the journal has sponsored prominent visiting speakers from Mexico to the Israeli Bedouin community who have spoken on the latest human rights developments in their regions. JIHR wishes to thank all of the authors and speakers for their contributions over the course of the past ten years that have helped to shape the field of international human rights law.
In its tenth anniversary year, JIHR further advances the field of international human rights law by publishing the special edition Front Lines issues. These shorter publications are intended to highlight recent, cutting edge developments in the field of international human rights law. Last November we published Front Lines: Rule of Law in Haiti and Beyond, which highlights pioneering legal developments that have been successful in creating a more effective rule of law both within Haiti and beyond its borders. In May 2012, we will publish Front Lines: Human Rights in the Middle East and North Africa. The articles touch upon the intersection of human rights and revolution, democracy building, gender, labor rights, and last but not least, the rule of law.
In reflecting back uponone of JIHR’s first issues, which featured the rule of law and human rights following NATO’s intervention in the Balkans, it is evident the field has come a long way. While the leading thinkers and practitioners featured in these Front Lines publications discuss rule of law initiatives that widely diverge, together they play an important role in more effectively and sustainably protecting human rights around the globe. We are pleased to offer these innovative contributions to the field of international human rights law.
Ten years ago, when Northwestern University’s Journal of International Human Rights (JIHR) was born, human rights rarely captured the headlines, much less the legal debate. Much has changed. Human rights struggles in Tibet, China, Colombia, Mexico, the Middle East and North Africa have seized the international community’s attention. Today, JIHR’s publications are more relevant and timely than ever.
Founded for the purpose of promoting the discussion of international human rights law, this award-winning journal has advanced the protection of human rights around the world. JIHR has published high profile authors ranging from distinguished professors, such as M. Cherif Bassiouni, the world’s leading authority on international criminal law, and David Scheffer, former U.S. Ambassador at Large for War Crimes; to Colonel Mukul Saxena of the Indian Army (The Sikh Regiment in Kashmir); to Richard Williamson, former U.S. Representative to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights; to Judge Wolfgang Schomburg of the Appeals Chambers of the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.
JIHR is widely known for its Atrocity Crimes Litigation Year-in-Review publication, which highlights the latest developments in international criminal law and is subscribed to by leading judges, attorneys, and scholars around the world. The publication features the annual Atrocity Crimes Litigation Year-in-Review Conference, convened by the Center for International Human Rights at Northwestern University School of Law, where tribunal registrars, prosecutors, defense counsel, and scholars examine the practice and jurisprudence of international tribunals over the previous year, and postulate on future developments. No other law school journal publishes an issue of this character.
The articles JIHR has published go beyond the field of international criminal law and have affected discourse on subjects that range from “State Obligations Regarding Domestic Violence” to “Designing More Effective Laws Against Human Trafficking” to “The Growing Relevance and Enforceability of Corporate Human Rights Responsibility.” Lastly, the journal has sponsored prominent visiting speakers from Mexico to the Israeli Bedouin community who have spoken on the latest human rights developments in their regions. JIHR wishes to thank all of the authors and speakers for their contributions over the course of the past ten years that have helped to shape the field of international human rights law.
In its tenth anniversary year, JIHR further advances the field of international human rights law by publishing the special edition Front Lines issues. These shorter publications are intended to highlight recent, cutting edge developments in the field of international human rights law. Last November we published Front Lines: Rule of Law in Haiti and Beyond, which highlights pioneering legal developments that have been successful in creating a more effective rule of law both within Haiti and beyond its borders. In May 2012, we will publish Front Lines: Human Rights in the Middle East and North Africa. The articles touch upon the intersection of human rights and revolution, democracy building, gender, labor rights, and last but not least, the rule of law.
In reflecting back uponone of JIHR’s first issues, which featured the rule of law and human rights following NATO’s intervention in the Balkans, it is evident the field has come a long way. While the leading thinkers and practitioners featured in these Front Lines publications discuss rule of law initiatives that widely diverge, together they play an important role in more effectively and sustainably protecting human rights around the globe. We are pleased to offer these innovative contributions to the field of international human rights law.
*Candidate for Juris Doctor and LLM in International Human Rights, Northwestern University School of Law, May 2013; Editor-in-Chief, Northwestern University Journal of International Human Rights. The original version of this article was first published in JIHR’s volume 10, issue 1 publication, available at http://www.law.northwestern.edu/jihr/v10/n1/.