International Human Rights (LAW 6886)

International conventions (or treaties) are essentially contracts between nations.  They can be bilateral (between two nations) or multilateral (between many nations).  Treaty research involves multiple steps:

1. Identify all the treaties applicable to your topic area.  This requires you to start research in books and articles.
2. Find the treaty.  Most international human rights treaties are on the web.   
   • For a list of treaties organized by subject matter:
     • University of Minnesota Human Rights Library
     • Research guide of frequently-cited human rights treaties
   • OHCHR: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights provides treaties related to human rights.
   • United Nations Treaty Collection: provides text and status of over 560 multilateral treaties 
   • UNHCR: United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees provides text of treaties related to refugees
     • Bilateral treaties: search by country or topic
     • Multilateral treaties: search by country or topic
   • HeinOnline's World Treaty Index: clunky platform, but does allow for searching by keyword, parties, title, etc.
   • Westlaw provides U.S. treaties (courtesy of U.S. State Department).  Home > Administrative Decisions & Guidance > Federal Administrative Decisions & Guidance > Department of State
3. Determine the status of the treaty.  Is it still in effect? 
4. Determine the parties of the treaty.  If your topic involves analyzing the United States, you will want to know if the United States is a party to the treaty.  Sometimes that is available on the same website that provides the treaty's text.  Other times, you will need to do deeper research.  Ask me!
5. Determine if the extent of RUDs (reservations, understandings, and declarations) taken.

For further help researching treaties, go to the research guide for it: here.