UofL Libraries: International Law: Human Rights

Human Rights

Several regional organizations are concerned with monitoring, legislating, or hearing cases related to international human rights. Several human rights titles are shelved with treatises and periodicals on the basement and 2nd floors.

International Human Rights Research Guide
Explains the procedures of the major international human rights systems & provides links to useful resources.
From the Reference Desk: Tips for Researching International Human Rights Case Law
Links & information for finding human rights case law from a range of international organizations.
Lexis+
Law students & faculty only.
Browse by Topics 'International Law', then 'Individuals & Sovereign States', and 'Human Rights'.

International Human Rights Law Sourcebook by A. Borene; A. Borene; M. Sullivan; ABA Center for Human Rights
Call Number: K3238.I573 2014
ISBN: 9781627224093
Publication Date: 2015
A compilation of important documents that are critical to understanding and promoting human rights.

United Nations

See the United Nations tab for more information.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Jurisprudence Database
A single source of the human rights recommendations and findings issued by all UN Treaty Bodies that consider complaints from individuals.

The United Nations and Human Rights by Julie Mertus
Call Number: JC571.M4447 2009
ISBN: 9780415491327
Publication Date: 2009
Examines historical and philosophical development of the UN human rights system, and contemporary UN structures and procedures for addressing human rights issues.

African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights established both the African Commission and the African Court on Human and People's Rights.

African Commission on Human and People's Rights
Includes news, state reports, mission reports, and the text of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
African Court on Human and People's Rights
Complements & reinforces the works of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa
Includes information about human rights systems across Africa, and a searchable collection of African human rights case law.

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is concerned with human rights, democracy and rule of law. It is composed of 47 member states across Europe.

Council of Europe
European Court of Human Rights
HUDOC : European Court of Human Rights
Database of European Court of Human Rights case law.
Lexis+
Law students & faculty only.
Choose the 'International' tab in the 'Explore Content' box and select European Union. Includes full text of European Court of Human Rights cases, and reported in Butterworths Human Rights Cases.

Organization of American States

The OAS focuses on democracy, human rights, security, and development. It has 35 member states across the Americas.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Choose Jurisprudence tab to search case law.
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States: Brief Comments on Occasion of Its 70th Anniversary
DipLawMatic Dialogues blog post outlining history & impact of the OAS as of 2018.
Researching the Inter-American System of Human Rights
GlobaLex legal research guide from Hauser Global Law School.