Nominal Commitment to Human Rights: A Global Survey

Department of Political Science & the UCL Institute for Human Rights

Date: 10 December 2009
Time: 5 - 6.30pm
Location: UCL Pearson Lecture Theatre, Gower Street WC1E 6BT

Nominal Commitment to Human Rights: A Global Survey

Argentina is the country in the world that gives the most support to human
rights, humanitarian law and international criminal law - in terms of
commitment on paper at least. That's according to a research project to be
unveiled by University College London to mark International Human Rights
Day.

'Nominal Commitment to Human Rights: A Global Survey' is a student-staff
research project that has studied which states have ratified which
treaties - sketching out a global view of which countries are the most
willing and less willing to support human rights internationally by way of
making legal commitments. The study focussed on the core global human
rights and humanitarian law treaties and treaties that aim to prevent and
punish international crimes. This study was carried out by students on the
MA in Human Rights at UCL's Department of Political Science under the
guidance of researchers Alice Wyss and Dr Basak Cali.

The Survey recognises that nominal commitment does not necessarily mean
real commitment. We, however, hope that this survey will spark an informed
debate about the role of nominal commitment towards internalisation of
human rights ideals by offering a comprehensive global ranking of
countries.

To explain the importance of international legal commitment to human
rights, humanitarian law and punishment and prevention of international
crimes to Argentina in particular and the world in general, UCL's
Department of Political Science, in association with UCL's Institute of
Human Rights, has invited the Argentinian Charge d'Affaires Mr. Osvaldo
Marsico and Amnesty International's Head of Social and Cultural rights,
Ms. Meghna Abraham, to discuss these results.

Speakers:
Mr. Osvaldo Marsico, Argentinian Charge d'Affaires, Argentinian Embassy
Ms. Meghna Abraham, Head of Social and Cultural Rights, Amnesty International
Ms. Alice Wyss, Researcher, Dept of Political Science

Chair:
Dr. Basak Cali

Respondent:
Dr. Saladin Meckled-Garcia, Director, UCL Institute for Human Rights


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