Truth and Reconciliation in a Democratic Welfare State: The Indigenous Sami and the Kven/Norwegian Finns Minority in Norway (TRUCOM)

This project will study how Norway – a well-established democratic welfare state – attempts to settle the negative effects of long-lasting policies of assimilation and discrimination against indigenous and minority groups through the establishment of a formal truth and reconciliation commission. How and in what ways will the Norwegian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) – […]

LawTransform: Effects of Rights & Law

The project aims to consolidate the Centre on Law & Social Transformation (LawTransform) as a leading hub for scholarship on the use of law as an instrument of social change, and to advance high-quality research-based education in this field in Norway and abroad. Background and purpose: Our project brings together an interdisciplinary team of scholars […]

Political determinants of sexual and reproductive health: Criminalisation, health impacts and game changers

  Why is homosexuality (encompassing lesbian, gay, bi, trans*/LGBT) more politicized and criminalized in Africa than elsewhere? Can similar politicization of abortion be prevented? And what are the health impacts? This project analyses LGBT and abortion politics in ten African countries: Sudan, Tunisia, Senegal, Malawi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa. Development actors […]

Abortion Rights Lawfare in Latin America

Abstract: The project analyses the strategic use of rights and law in battles over abortion rights in Latin America – and the various effects of this lawfare between opposing groups. Background and purpose: The growing scholarship on the interaction between judicial institutions and human rights in Latin America has mainly focused on socially progressive, rights-expanding forms of […]

Sexual and Reproductive Rights Lawfare: Global battles

  Sexual and Reproductive Rights (SRR) are controversial in most societies. Political polarization has been particularly pronounced on to abortion rights and rights of sexual minorities (LGBTIQ – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer – persons), but is also evident in issues such as the regulation of contraception, sterilization and adultery, divorce, sexual education and […]

Democratizing Indian Democracy? Social Movements and the State in India: Towards a New Research Agenda

To what extent are social movements capable of deepening democracy in India in such a way as to enhance the political voice of subaltern groups and thereby enable them to challenge their adverse incorporation into socioeconomic structures? This is the central research question that will be addressed by this project, which seeks to define an […]

Operationalizing a Rights-Based Approach to Health Service Delivery

Abstract: The research project a Rights-Based Approach to Health Service Delivery (RBA – health delivery) aims to develop a participatory methodology for operationalizing a rights-based approach to health service delivery. Background and purpose: This research project is a joint effort by CMI, The World Bank and Harvard University to develop a participatory methodology for operationalizing a rights-based […]

Land Rights, Environmental Protection and Inclusive Development within India’s Federal System

Abstract: India faces serious challenges in constructing development paths that are socially inclusive, ecologically sustainable and politically feasible. The main goal of the research project is to understand how the legal regimes adopted to protect vulnerable groups and ecosystems interact with the socio-political dynamics of the Indian federal system. Moreover, we aim to understand how this […]

Climate Change Discourse, Rights, and the Poor

Abstract:  This project aims to strengthen the competence of Norway as it increasingly becomes a key player on the relations between climate and poverty by improving the knowledge base on Norway’s bilateral relations with South Africa, contribute to a better understanding of the challenges for development aid cooperation to be responsible towards both the environment and […]

Litigating the Right to Health

Abstract: The project investigates whether litigation can make health policies and -systems in poor countries more equitable by forcing policy-makers and administrators to take seriously their human rights obligations. Cases regarding the right to health care are increasingly brought before the courts. In a number of low- and middle-income countries – first in Latin America, […]