Professional Identity of the Human Rights Field Officer

Michael O'Flaherty is Professor of Applied Human Rights and Co-Director of the Human Rights Law Centre, University of Nottingham, UK. He is a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee and former Head of UN Human Rights programmes in Bosnia and Sierra Leone. Dr George Ulrich is, since 2003, Secretary-General of the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation, where he served previously for three years as the Academic Coordinator and Acting Programme Director of the E.MA programme. He has published widely on issues of ethics and human rights, and lectured throughout Europe and Africa.

'This is a pathbreaking book that covers new ground and makes an insightful contribution to international human rights law...[it] should be read by everyone going into the field as a human rights officer.' Bertrand Ramcharan, former United Nations Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights/Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Sweden 'O'Flaherty has made another valuable contribution to our understanding of human rights work and the standards applicable to those who do it. This book is an insightful and thought-provoking work that is relevant to all those involved in protecting human rights as a cause or vocation. By looking at the many dimensions of human rights field work, O'Flaherty and Ulrich raise important questions and give much-needed guidance for this new profession.' Peggy Hicks, Global Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch 'During the last two decades, a fascinating new profession has emerged: the multi-talented human rights field worker ... In their new book, Michael O'Flaherty and George Ulrich describe the development and professional identity of human rights field workers and provide them with a first set of Guiding Principles and Statement of Ethical Commitments.' Manfred Nowak, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture

• Notes on Contributors, Introduction, 1 The Professional Identity and Development of Human Rights Field Workers, 2 The Guiding Principles for Human Rights Field Officers Working in Conflict and Post-Conflict Environments: A Commentary, 3 The Statement of Ethical Commitments of Human Rights Professionals: A Commentary, 4 A Fresh View on Protection: The Human Rights Field Officer’s Perspective, 5 New Models for Human Rights Capacity Building in the Field: Human Rights Field Officers and Relief and Development Professionals, 6 Human Rights Field Officers Working for the Most Vulnerable: Internally Displaced Persons, 7 Human Rights Field Officers Working for the Most Vulnerable: Children, 8 Human Rights Field Officers Working for the Most Vulnerable: Women, 9 Emerging Issues for Human Rights Field Officers: Monitoring Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 10 Emerging Issues for Human Rights Field Officers: Responses to Terrorism, 11 Emerging Issues for Human Rights Field Officers: Support for Criminal Justice, 12 Emerging Issues for Human Rights Field Officers: Freedom of Expression, Opportunities and Challenges, Annex: The Proceedings of the Project , ‘Consolidating the Profession: The Human Rights Field Officer’, Bibliography, Index