Resources

Law Library Resources on Human Rights

The Law Library at Northeastern School of Law houses excellent collections on international human rights generally and economic, social and cultural rights more particularly.

Bibliography of Resources Related to ESC Rights

 

Important Websites

United Nations

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
• United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 
• OHCHR Committee on Economic, Social, & Cultural Rights (ESCR)

Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)

• National Economic & Social Rights Initiative (NESRI)
• International Network for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net)
• Center for Economic and Social Rights
• Amnesty International
• INTERIGHTS
• Human Rights Law Network
• Oxfam

Research Websites

• University of Minnesota Human Rights Library
• Bayefsky United Nations Human Rights Treaties
• United Nations Universal Human Rights Index

Specific ESC Rights
Right to Health

• UN Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
• Committee on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights General Comment No. 14 The Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health
• International Federation of Health and Human Rights Organisations (IFHHRO)
• Health & Human Rights Journal
• Harvard FXB Center for Health & Human Rights
• Right to Health Unit Archives – University of Essex
• Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)
  

Right to Education

• UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education 
• Right to Education Project
• UNESCO Right to Education

Right to Adequate Housing

• UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context 
• Center on Housing Rights & Evictions (COHRE)
• National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
  

Right to Food

• UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food 
• Olivier de Schutter, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Site
• Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• FAO Right to Food
• FIAN International
  

Right to Decent Work

• UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
• UN Special  Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Especially in Women & Children
• Working Group on the Issue of Discrimination Against Women in Law & in Practice
• International Labour Organization (ILO) Decent Work

Right to Water

• UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation

Special Topics

Earthquake in Haiti
According to UN and Haitian government estimates, more than 200,000 people lost their lives in the January 12, 2010, earthquake that struck Haiti. The death toll is the highest for a natural disaster since the Asian tsunami in 2004 and the third greatest in any earthquake over the past 30 years. Hundreds of thousands were injured, displaced and left homeless.  Survivors face numerous human rights and humanitarian priorities: medical care; nutritious food and clean water; and adequate shelter and housing to name only a few. Find resources and learn how you can help via the links here.

Human Rights and the Aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: A Resource List
Disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita raise important human rights issues and governmental responsibilities. We encourage those interested in this issue to explore the linked resources and responses.