The OECD estimates that there may be from 5 to 8 million irregular, or undocumented, migrants in Europe. These are individuals without a residence permit authorizing them to regularly stay in their country of destination. Once in an unregulated status, migrants are systematically denied their fundamental rights. How, then, do they mobilize to strengthen these […]
Numerous law and court related databases have been developed in recent years – over constitutions, laws, judgments, and various aspects of court cases and litigation processes. But too often these are ad hoc, poorly constructed, poorly utilized and discontinued. How can we best develop good databases to serve a useful instruments for qualitative as well […]
LaDawn Haglund presented her study which explores transformations in water and sanitation sectors that occur as a result of increased legalization of social and environmental policy. The intense human rights and environmental challenges created by rapid urbanization, poverty, and climate variability have pressured states to act with greater urgency on their obligations to protect vulnerable populations and […]
Land rights are contested in all parts of the world, and not least so government acquisition of land (on behalf of the state or private interests) for purposes of the common good and socio-economic development. In india, large scale infrastructure – mines, dams, ports and roads – have severely infringed the land rights of tribal […]
Faced with a so-called refugee crisis, European politicians, practitioners and scholars discuss whether the 1951 Refugee Convention is in need of reform. Many of the arguments and questions have been raised previously, for example during the Balkan war, but today, the context differs. We are seeing the highest number of refugees ever, with 65, 3 […]
Same-sex conduct between consenting adults is today criminalized in 78 countries, in 6 of them punished by death. LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) persons are also frequently targeted by relatives and non-state actors or risk lack of real protection from homo- and transphobic authorities. As a consequence, these sexual minorities have sought to seek […]
After five and a half years of conflict, the situation in Syria is worsening: there is increased fighting and violence on the ground and no clear road map to peace. More than five million Syrians have fled their country to seek safety in neighboring countries and beyond. How do these exiles mobilize for political change […]
Refugees dissatisfied with the conditions in their home countries often continue to agitate for change when they arrive in countries of neighbouring refuge, such as refugees from Myanmar living in Burma, or refugees from Bhutan living in Nepal. How might we come to understand the shapes and modes of such activism? Concepts in the literatures […]
– Understanding Strategic Litigation Campaigns Norwegian climate change activists consider going to court to force policy change on oil drilling. In the United States there is an ongoing campaign by environmental groups to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions where litigation has played a central part – in some cases with considerable success. What factors influence how […]
The UN Convention for the Rights of the Child has emerged as a central yardstick in assessing policies and practices concerning children. But how do we measure the extent of implementation? And what can social science methods contribute to legal evaluations? This roundtable is part of a LawTransfrom/Save the Childen project headed by Malcolm Langford. Introduction by […]
Irregular Migrants and Mobilization for Rights in European Countries
