Publications

We are pleased to present our online journal, Human Rights and the Global Economy on the Social Science Research Network.

In December 2009, PHRGE submitted testimony to the first-ever Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on US compliance with international human rights treaties. PHRGE’s testimony focuses on federalism issues and uses Civil Gideon — and the right to counsel for immigrants in removal proceedings — as an example of where the federal government might provide leadership on international human rights implementation. In making this argument, PHRGE relies on the statement of the CERD Committee on Civil Gideon that came out of the advocacy of Professor Jim Rowan and students at the 2008 CERD meeting in Geneva.
Report of the Workshop on the Justiciability of Socio-Economic Rights, March 2009
The University of Pennsylvania Press has just published an abridged version of Professor Martha Davis' Bringing Human Rights Home.
Professor Martha Davis files amicus brief arguing international law applies in domestic force feeding case.
Professor Martha Davis weighs in on the US human rights agenda in Mandate for Change, a blueprint for the Obama administration.
Human Rights and Racial Justice in the U.S. A Study Guide to Accompany the 15th Annual Valerie Gordon Lecture at Northeastern University School of Law, entitled "A Twenty-first Century Global View of Racial Justice," delivered by Gay McDougall, United Nations Independent Expert on Minority Issues (mp3 audio file available). The March 3, 2008 lecture examined racial injustice in education, health and civic participation, globally and locally through the lens of international human rights law. With the support of the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, PHRGE made the lecture and study guide available to social justice activists throughout Massachusetts to stimulate discussion on ways local communities can advocate for racial equality using international human rights standards.
Human Rights, Social Justice and State Law: A Manual for Creative Lawyering published by the Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy, Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute and the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative.
Professor Martha Davis is Bringing Human Rights Home (Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007) with her new edited, three-volume set chronicling the history of human rights in the United States from the perspective of domestic social justice. With coeditors Cynthia Soohoo and Catherine Albisa, Davis examines the political forces and historic events that resulted in the US’ failure to embrace human rights principles at home while actively (albeit selectively) championing and promoting human rights abroad. It then considers the current explosion of human rights activism around issues within the United States and the way human rights is transforming domestic social justice work. The set also chronicles current domestic human rights work, and covers everything from globalization to terrorism and the erosion of civil rights protections that led to a renewed interest in human rights; human rights versus civil rights strategies; and the different ways human rights can support social activism.
On International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2007, PHRGE issued its report, “Access to Civil Justice,” assessing the racially discriminatory impact of the US civil justice system through a human rights lens. The report has been submitted to the United Nations, which will review it in February 2008.
Progressive Lawyering, Globalization, and Markets: Rethinking Ideology and Strategy (Clare Dalton, Editor) The essays collected offer a multi-disciplinary and multi-generational approach to the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization and the spread of neo-liberal market ideology. The volume’s contributing authors represent three generations of progressive thinkers, teachers, policymakers and activists. The contributors search for innovative understandings and blueprints for action. They seek to sharpen analysis of some of the key issues we face as a national and global society, generate fresh debate, and expand the repertoire of strategies available in the fight for human opportunity and well-being.
Professor Martha Davis Leads PHRGE Efforts to Establish Civil Gideon in King v. King.
“Human rights at home” Op-ed by Professor Martha Davis in The Boston Globe, May 20, 2007
“In the Interests of Justice: Human Rights and the Right to Counsel in Civil Cases” (Dec. 2006): This timely and ground-breaking report reviews the status of the right to civil counsel under international law, focusing specifically on those international treaties and conventions pertinent to the United States. Among other things, the report notes that heightened need for counsel in those instances where fundamental economic, social and cultural rights are at issue. Hard copies of the report are available upon request, for the cost of shipping.
Realizing Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Communities, Courts and the Academy (117 pages). This report summarizes PHRGE's two-day conference in June 2005, including a major symposium, held at Harvard Law School, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the South African Freedom Charter, and a consultation at the School of Law focused on "Realizing Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Communities, Courts and the Academy." The Honorable Pius Langa, chief justice of the South African Constitutional Court, delivered remarks as did other members of the judiciary, NGOs and academics.
Northeastern Law Magazine: “The International Law Issue” (Winter 2007)
“We need a civil 'Gideon'” Op-ed by Professor Martha Davis in The National Law Journal, Aug. 2006
Human Rights and the Aftermath of Disaster