Research Guides

Human Rights

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) see also Torture Documents Released Under FOIA

Amnesty International
A worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international standards. In particular, Amnesty International campaigns to free all prisoners of conscience; ensure fair and prompt trials for political prisoners; abolish the death penalty, torture and other cruel treatment of prisoners; end political killings and "disappearances"; and oppose human rights abuses by opposition groups.

In our catalog:

Amnesty International [microform] : a major collection of published and unpublished research material. 1983+.
Mugar Microforms Rm JC571 .A44 (Index)

Amnesty International report. 1975/76+
An annual summary report of worldwide issues and Amnesty International's response. Available through the website, or in the Reference collection at
Mugar Reference X JC571 .A44a

Foreign in Policy in Focus - Human Rights
A "think tank without walls" that functions as an international network of more than 650 policy analysts and advocates. "Unlike traditional think tanks, FPIF is committed to advancing a citizen-based foreign policy agenda-one that is fundamentally rooted in citizen initiatives and movements." (from the site)

Human Rights Internet - Documentation Centre
While the primary databases are available by subscription only, two sources - a collection of full-text reports (indexed by subject and geographic region), and an Human Rights Databank seach engine - are available at no charge.

Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. This website provides breaking news and current project information of the organization including the campaign to ratify the International Criminal Court. Many publications by this organization are listed in the web catalog under author "Human Rights Watch". see also Human Rights Watch World Reports: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 1989-2003

Project Diana: an online human rights archive
Full text of selected human rights cases and key documents (primary source material).

Treaty Bodies Database (United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights)
While State reports and concluding observations constitute the core of the database, you will also find other full-text documents (Documents)and factual data (Reporting Status, Status of Ratification) concerning reporting process and ratification of the treaties, as well as information relating to the Committees. Well organized, can be sorted by country.

University of Minnesota Human Rights Library
The Library contains a large collection of international human rights treaties, instruments, general comments, recommendations, decisions, and views of treaty bodies.