Chasing Shadows: A Quantitative Analysis of the Scope and Impact of UN Communications on Human Rights Defenders (2000–2016)
Abstract
The United Nations’ individual casework on human rights defenders can be effective, but it is neither balanced nor efficient. Based on extensive empirical research and the first systematic analysis of all communications sent out to date, this policy paper argues that a more deliberate prioritization of cases is required to ensure that the special procedures mandate can serve its protective purpose more effectively within the constraints of its very limited resources. It formulates recommendations to all stakeholders, aiming at maximizing potential impact on individual defenders, while systematically striving for a balanced documentation of cases.
Type
Authors
Researcher in Political Science
I am passionate about exploring and comparing human rights protection and state coercion in democratic as well as authoritarian contexts. For my work and studies, I have received various scholarships and awards, and spent considerable time abroad in countries on five continents. I was previously a visiting scholar at Stanford University, USA, and a research fellow at the Global Public Policy Institute, Germany, where I co-developed the Academic Freedom Index. I hold a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Freiburg.