Strengthening the international human rights system: Rights, regulation and ritualism

This proposal aims to develop a world-class research program on implementing international human rights laws. The international community has elaborated a sophisticated system of human rights standards in widely ratified treaties but these principles are often undermined by countries that have accepted them. Drawing on concepts of regulation, this project will document and analyse human rights ritualism, which includes the acceptance of human rights precisely to deflect real scrutiny, so avoiding accountability for human rights abuses. The project will identify methods to strengthen the human rights system with substance as well as ritual.