About the Human Rights Project

Mission

The Human Rights Project is a project of the Center for Global Security and Democracy. The Center focuses on the two-way linkage between the construction of security and the construction of democracy, with both “security” and “democracy” very broadly understood. We define security to include security of person in the terms established by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which sets the global standard for individual, national and international behavior. Regrettably, the international community has a long way to go before it meets its own standard. The Human Rights Project combines academic research and fieldwork in the pursuit of social justice, victim recognition and healing. The Project harnesses the resources of Rutgers University and its partners around the world to conceive and implement projects that address human rights violations and promote informed action.

Background

Our Project is only now beginning its work. Our primary aim at the present time is to connect the many units at Rutgers already engaged in human rights work and forge a campus-wide network of scholars and activists. The Project has already undertaken several independent initiatives, however. the INS Detention Center Project that addresses the plight of asylum seekers held at the INS Detention Center in Elizabeth, NJ; and a human rights film and speaker series that brought such individuals as Michael Moore, Saskia Sasson and Mandred Steger to Rutgers. Project staff also support FACE Human Rights, CGSD’s multilingual, global, Internet portal for human rights activists and grassroots organizations.