Rights Review

Yasmin RajwaniDecember 29, 2023

How Canada Can Fight Back Against Foreign Interference

A Conversation with the Honourable Michael Chong Editor’s Note: This is part two of a two-part series written by Rajwani and Sloan. For part 1, […]

Jason QuinnDecember 29, 2023

Arms as Aid

International Arms Transfers, Law, and Human Rights It is an unfortunate fact that conflict has persisted throughout human history, but a recent global flare-up indicates […]

Jared SloanOctober 30, 2023

Intimidated, Coerced, Silenced

The growing threat of transnational repression in Canada The Canadian government has revealed very little so far about its intelligence on the role of the […]

Vlad MirelOctober 30, 2023

Examining the United Nations Security Council’s Veto Powers in the Context of Human Rights Violations

The veto power afforded to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (China, Russia, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom) […]

Cassie HewardOctober 30, 2023

Some Much-Needed Optimism for the International Legal Order

Reflections from the 2023 Cecil A. Wright Memorial lecture This past year, we have witnessed some of the most devastating world conflicts in recent decades. […]

Duncan CrabtreeOctober 29, 2023

La DNUDPA et la loi 96

Le Canada doit-il intervenir davantage? En 2021, le Canada a officiellement adopté la Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones (DNUDPA). C’était […]

Luke YanOctober 29, 2023

A Generous Interpretation of the Presumption of Innocence

The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal’s Decision in HKSAR v Lai Chee Ying Background Between 2019 and 2020, Hong Kong experienced a prolonged period […]

Andrew ParkerOctober 26, 2023

A Summer Internship at the GLAN

Making an international impact with legal action from home This summer, I spent 12 weeks working alongside Bellingcat and the Global Legal Action Network’s Justice […]

Samantha MisnerOctober 26, 2023

A Summer Internship at the IDLO

Advocating for Justice and Sustainable Development This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to work as a research intern in the Research and Learning Department […]

Jeffrey MaOctober 26, 2023

A Summer Internship at the HRLU

Advocating for the UNHCR’s persons of concern This summer, I had the privilege of interning in the Human Rights Liaison Unit (“HRLU”) of the United […]

Sarah FarbOctober 26, 2023

A Summer Internship at Media Defence, London

Advocating for free speech My summer at Media Defence was a transformative experience for me as a student and future lawyer. While working here, I […]

Manreet BrarOctober 15, 2023

A Summer Internship at the IHRP

Advancing the field of international human rights by holding Canada accountable This past summer, I worked as an in-house research fellow with the International Human […]

Andrew ParkerApril 3, 2023

Interview with Alexa Koenig

A discussion on the use of open-source evidence in legal proceedings Alexa Koenig, JD, PhD is an adjunct professor and the Co-Executive Director and Co-Faculty […]

Alex Foulger-FortMarch 3, 2023

Investor-State Dispute Settlement

The Net-Zero Obstacle No One is Talking About Why are governments around the world failing to enact climate change legislation? For many governments, one reason […]

Jason QuinnMarch 3, 2023

Competition and Conflict

Banning Russian athletes from the Olympics It has been over a year since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and international efforts to navigate the conflict […]

Rights Review Editorial BoardJanuary 30, 2023

Interview with IHRP Director Sandra Wisner

RR: Many law students at U of T’s Faculty of Law may be drawn to practicing international human rights law but are not entirely sure […]

Samantha MisnerJanuary 30, 2023

Working Group: The Venezuela Accountability Project (VAP)

Leads: Samantha Misner (2L), Andrew Parker (2L) Members: Antonia Dederichs (LLM), Gautam Raghuvanshi (LLM), Duncan Crabtree (2L), Arifah Razack (2L), Foti Vito (2L), Courtney Cowan […]

Erin KimJanuary 30, 2023

Working Group: Advancing Global Health and Human Rights

Leads: Erin Kim (2L), Aimee Veiner (2L)  Members: Sahaab Bajwa (3L), Beth Boyle (2L), Monica Gill (2L), Vidit Desai (1L), Ariel Gorodensky (1L),  Cindy Lin […]

Aliya HemaniJanuary 30, 2023

Working Group: Women’s Human Rights Resources Database

Leads: Aliya Hemani (2L), Megan Peters (2L) Members: Helin Tasdemir (2L), Amy Wang (2L), Manreet Brar (1L), Isabel Brisson (1L), Yinzi Gao (1L), Rachel Gertin […]

Gursheen CheemaJanuary 30, 2023

Working Group: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Leads: Gursheen Cheema (3L), Mishail Adeel (3L) Members: Rachel Quicahn Li (GPLLM), Jeffrey Ma (2L), Patrick Cowley (1L), Sian Shin (1L), Zhen Yu (Isabel) Yang […]

Julia CappellacciJanuary 30, 2023

Working Group: Cameroon Anglophone Crisis Database of Atrocities

Leads: Julia Cappellacci (2L), Eric Li (2L) Members: Jasmine Anthony (2L), Lauren George (2L), Julian Greco (2L), Emily Hean (2L), Daniel Edmeades, (1L), Jamie Oneschuk […]

Fatima AamirDecember 5, 2022

People Forced to Flee: History, Change and Challenge Book Forum

On October 28, 2022, the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) and David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights co-hosted a book forum on Ninette Kelley’s People […]

Foti VitoOctober 31, 2022

Reflections on International Criminal Law

A summer at the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals My summer in The Hague was an incredibly formative experience and a unique […]

Julianne SchmidtOctober 31, 2022

A Summer at PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection (ARC)

Art on the front line By the summer of 1940, while the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York was preparing an exhibition showcasing […]

Caeleb R. GoffOctober 31, 2022

Our Summer with SASLAW Pro Bono

New perspectives on labour law Last summer, we participated in the fourth iteration of the South African Society for Labour Law (SASLAW) Pro Bono Canadian […]

Jane Fallis CooperOctober 31, 2022

A Summer at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

Cross-border collaboration in a hybrid work environment This summer, I had the privilege of working at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), a public […]

Alex Foulger-FortOctober 3, 2022

In Search of a Better World

Film Discussion with Payam Akhavan   On June 17, 2022, Massey College hosted a screening of In Search of a Better World (2021). Directed by […]

Rights Review Editorial BoardOctober 3, 2022

Interview with Marcia Kran

On her studies, career, and work on the United Nations Human Rights Committee (June 2022)  Marcia V.J. Kran, O. C., is an international lawyer with […]

Taskeen Ather NawabMarch 31, 2022

A Tool, Not A Constitution

The role of international human rights law in conflict Hello Readers, Welcome to the final issue of our term. This edition comes at a particularly […]

Maggie XingMarch 31, 2022

Weapons Distribution and Human Rights

The absence of human rights due diligence in the defense industry Sales and exports of defense articles have created egregious human rights abuses over the […]

Duncan CrabtreeMarch 31, 2022

Roundtable: Professor Kent Roach’s Vision for Human Rights Remedies

Top legal minds reflect on his most recent book on human rights “We live in a world rich in rights and poor in remedies,” states […]

Julianne SchmidtMarch 31, 2022

Creative Dissent

Free expression rights, the Winter Olympics, and failures to protect the arts Last month, George Washington University (GWU) became the latest arena for the censorship […]

Ally MastantuonoFebruary 28, 2022

The Implications of Facial Recognition Technology

A discussion on the challenges and trends of this novel technology In addition to being highly controversial, Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) presents our legal system […]

Rhea MurtiFebruary 28, 2022

Indigenous Fishing Rights and International Human Rights Law

Looking at the Mi’kmaq fishing dispute through an international lens In the fall of 2020, Canadian media was inundated with what was depicted as a […]

Sabrina SukhdeoJanuary 26, 2022

The Neocolonial Underbelly of International Human Rights Advocacy

Legal education, human rights, and the Third World This piece references the work of Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) scholars, including James T. […]

Emma TomasJanuary 26, 2022

Women’s Human Rights Resources

Facilitating women’s human rights research across the globe Leads: Emma Tomas (2L) and Nancy You (2L) Members: Ashley Chana (1L), Victoria Element (1L), Milana Grahovac (1L), Aditi […]

Taskeen Ather NawabJanuary 26, 2022

The Ghost of Evidence Corroboration Past

A call to revive Amnesty International’s Digital Verification Corps There was a time when students passing through the hallowed U of T halls entertained varying […]

Julianne SchmidtJanuary 26, 2022

Cameroon Anglophone Crisis Database of Atrocities

Documenting war crimes during an on-going civil war In December 2019, the University of Toronto launched the Cameroon Anglophone Crisis Database of Atrocities (“the Database”). […]

Frid MughalJanuary 26, 2022

Advancing Global Health and Human Rights

Making health and human rights law universally accessible Leads: Max Levy and Frid Mughal  Members: Laura Clerk (1L), Masha Janjuz (2L), Erin Kim (1L), CeCe Li […]

Jean-Pierre D’AngeloJanuary 26, 2022

The Venezuela Accountability Project

Investigating crimes against humanity with a collaborative spirit Executive Director: Jean-Pierre D’Angelo (3L) Members: About 20 students, including 1Ls, upper-year JD students, LLM students, and […]

Gursheen CheemaJanuary 26, 2022

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Tracking LGTBQ+ rights around the world for refugee claimants Leads: Gursheen Cheema (2L), Julia Pimental (3L), and Natasha Williams (3L) Members: Lauren Di Felice (1L), […]

Taskeen Ather NawabNovember 25, 2021

A Letter from the Editorial Board

Revitalizing human rights advocacy Dear Readers,  Spheres of both domestic and international law aspire to function in harmony with the preservation of human rights. Often, […]

Ellen AnNovember 25, 2021

The Neglected Field of Remedies for Human Rights Violations

Interview with Professor Kent Roach on remedies in human rights law and the importance of the IHRP Professor Kent Roach is Professor of Law and […]

Duncan CrabtreeNovember 25, 2021

Hunger, Torture Threaten Tigrayans

How Canada’s current inaction on Tigrayan rights violations is reminiscent of old failures Hundreds of thousands of people in Ethiopia, the majority being ethnic Tigrayans, […]

Sabrina SukhdeoOctober 28, 2021

A Message from the Editorial Board

On IHRP summer fellowships and unpaid labour Dear Readers,  As the pandemic waged into the warmer months of 2021, students who had once entertained hopes […]

Jacqueline HuangOctober 28, 2021

Reflections on the SASLAW Fellowship

A summer of law in South Africa (via Zoom) The South African Society for Labour Law (SASLAW) is a non-profit organization devoted to the advancement […]

Maggie AraiOctober 28, 2021

A Summer with AIDS-Free World

Fighting the spread of HIV through app development and international law advocacy This past summer, I had the privilege of working for AIDS-Free World, an […]

Anna WongOctober 28, 2021

A Summer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, During a Pandemic

Pushing for equity in immunization in the age of COVID-19 Under Articles 25 and 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, every person has […]

Naya SamaraOctober 28, 2021

A Summer at the World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency

An introduction to the world of anti-corruption investigations This summer, I worked for the World Bank Group’s Integrity Vice Presidency (INT), a constituent, independent unit […]

Editor-in-ChiefSeptember 29, 2021

A Statement from the Editorial Board

A call for the University to mend its relationships Dear Readers, Just over a year ago, the Faculty of Law put an end to the […]

Ainslie PierrynowskiSeptember 29, 2021

Vaccine Inequity and International Human Rights Law

Realizing the right to health through international cooperation  Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine inequity has become a pertinent international human rights issue.  At their […]

Martha CôtéSeptember 29, 2021

Access to Safe Abortion Services as a Matter of Right

Taking a human rights based approach to abortion laws  On September 1, the United States Supreme Court delivered a 5-4, unsigned opinion in which the […]

Amirali AlaviSeptember 29, 2021

Delayed Flight to Justice

Will Canada hold Iran to account over the downing of Flight PS752? In the early hours of January 8, 2020, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard […]

Sabrina SukhdeoMay 2, 2021

Rights Not Rescue: An Interview with Elene Lam, Executive Director of Butterfly

A conversation about anti-Asian racism, whorephobia, and policing in Canada Elene Lam is the Executive Director of Butterfly, the Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support […]

Ashley MochonMay 2, 2021

Painting History Green

The Legalization of Abortion in Argentina In 2018, for the first time in Argentine history, a project for the legalization of voluntary abortion was debated […]

Lauren LamMay 2, 2021

Can the Anti-Asian Mass Shooting in Atlanta be the Tipping Point?

Addressing Anti-Asian racism in North American society On March 16, many were devastated to learn that a mass shooter murdered eight individuals and injured one […]

Editor-in-ChiefMay 2, 2021

Migrants, Know Your Rights

Interviews with Liam Turnbull and Ashley Major about IHRP’s collaboration on Vital Guides The International Human Rights Program (IHRP) has partnered with the Immigration Legal […]

Taskeen Ather NawabMay 2, 2021

From Al-Khatib to Koblenz

Limits to the Fight against Impunity under Universal Jurisdiction In Damascus, where Baghdad Road purportedly meets Al-Khatib Street and where the red Crescent Hospital sits, […]

Editor-in-ChiefMarch 5, 2021

Letter to Our Readers

Dear Readers, Mid-way through this second term, three-quarters of the way through this bizarre and challenging school year, we, the Rights Review Editorial team, wanted […]

Leah KelleyMarch 5, 2021

Cambie Surgeries Corporation v British Columbia (Attorney General)

The case that could change health care in Canada Introduction In September 2020, the Supreme Court of British Columbia (BCSC) released its Reasons for Judgment […]

Dylan JuschkoMarch 5, 2021

Health, Human Rights, and COVID-19

A discussion on the intersection of human rights and public health As we approach the anniversary of the COVID-19 lockdowns in Canada that shook the […]

Lauren LamMarch 5, 2021

The Right to Water: The Ongoing Fight of Indigenous and Northern Communities

A report on the Canadian Law School Conference event on the human right to water Human Rights Watch published a report titled “The Human Right […]

Editor-in-ChiefJanuary 27, 2021

Punishing Genocide: An Interview with Professor Payam Akhavan

Reviewing the themes and issues from the intensive seminar on International Criminal Law This interview has been edited for clarity and concision.  Professor Payam Akhavan […]

Abdullah KhanJanuary 27, 2021

An Interview with Nathalie des Rosier on the “Pandemics and the Law” Intensive class

Co-Editor-in-Chief, Abdullah Khan, sits down with des Rosier to discuss the human rights angle of her January intensive course On January 20, I had the […]

Ellen AnJanuary 27, 2021

Reflection on Empirical Research on the Legal Profession

A 2L student’s perspective on the human rights components of the empirical research intensive We all know that the practice of law is highly selective […]

Sterling ManuscoNovember 27, 2020

An Interview with Professor Sophia Moreau

Professor Sophia Moreau speaks about her recent book Faces of Inequality: A Theory of Wrongful Discrimination and its implications to the right to equal treatment […]

Martha CôtéNovember 27, 2020

An Interview with Downtown Legal Services Housing Staff Lawyer on the Right to Housing in the Pandemic

While upholding the right to housing is more important than ever, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought forward new and exasperated existing challenges in housing law […]

David CôtéNovember 27, 2020

The Repression of the Free Press under Lukashenko and its Corresponding Effect on the 2020 Belarusian Presidential Election

Analyzing the systematic silencing and violence in Belarus surrounding the 2020 Belarusian Presidential Election In August 2020, Belarus held their quinquennial presidential election. Despite apparent […]

Sabrina SukhdeoNovember 27, 2020

Nestlé & Cargill v Doe: Lessons from Nevsun and the Meaning of Corporate Accountability

A summary of the Alien Tort Statute and its application to corporate social accountability, justice for victims of international crime, and human rights violations Much […]

Web EditorNovember 2, 2020

Editorial Comments on the IHRP’s Future – Follow-Up Letter

IHRP fellowships will occur as usual October 28, 2020. Dear Readers, In light of the ongoing controversy surrounding the hiring of Professor Valentina Azarova to […]

Sabrina SukhdeoNovember 2, 2020

A (Remote) Summer with the SASLAW Pro Bono Project

Practicing international human rights law remotely This summer, I had the privilege of being one of the three fellows for the South African Society for […]

Vivian ChengNovember 2, 2020

Exploring International Human Rights Law in Canada

A summer as an IHRP in-house research assistant This summer, I worked as an in-house research assistant for the International Human Rights Program (IHRP). As […]

Annecy PangNovember 2, 2020

My Summer Working with PEN Canada

An IHRP Fellow’s experience researching the intersections of freedom of expression and technology This summer I spent seventeen weeks at PEN Canada, one of PEN […]

Taskeen Ather NawabNovember 2, 2020

A Summer at OCASI: The Role of Community Advocacy in the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence

An IHRP Fellow finds the serendipity of changed plans with the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants Planning – 2020 will have you know – […]

Web EditorOctober 5, 2020

Editorial Comments on the IHRP’s Future

Reflections on the Director hiring controversy Dear Readers, The start of the 2020-2021 academic year was already going to be difficult for us all considering […]

Sabrina SukhdeoOctober 5, 2020

The Venezuela Accountability Project: An Interview with Ashley Major

Addressing the need for accountability Over the last six years, the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has waged a brutal campaign of repression against […]

Alexa CheungOctober 5, 2020

Working with the #UyghurThree

The importance of client-centered work and trauma-informed practice Our summer working at the University of Toronto’s Downtown Legal Services (DLS) Refugee and Immigration Law division […]

Ainslie PierrynowskiOctober 5, 2020

An Unsafe Third Country

An analysis of Canadian Council for Refugees v Canada (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship) The Federal Court of Canada’s decision in Canadian Council for Refugees v […]

Taskeen Ather NawabOctober 5, 2020

Justice Ginsburg In Memoriam

The Role of a Judge in Advancing Human Rights  Since the evening of September 18, a slew of eulogies has been pouring in from the […]

Downtown Legal Services (DLS)July 21, 2020

The Right to a Father

Three Uyghur men are struggling with a dispassionate immigration system that refuses to allow them to reunite with their children. *This op-ed is published as […]

Downtown Legal Services (DLS)July 20, 2020

Canada’s reputation on refugees called into question by Uyghur men’s legal limbo

*This op-ed is published as part of a DLS campaign to reunite separated Uyghur-Canadian families. For more information, please visit the campaign website. **This piece […]

Downtown Legal Services (DLS)July 13, 2020

Hostage diplomacy and foreign interference: Why Canada must stand up to China now

Canada should offer refuge to victims of Chinese persecution and reduce Chinese influence over domestic affairs *This op-ed is published as part of a DLS […]

Angela GuApril 7, 2020

Asper Centre, IHRP Co-Host Canadian Media Freedom Symposium

On Friday, March 6, the Faculty of Law’s David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights and the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) co-hosted a symposium on […]

Hana AwwadApril 7, 2020

Why Recognizing Sexual Violence as Genocide Matters

In November 2019, The Gambia instituted proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that Myanmar had violated its obligations under the Convention on […]

Editor-in-ChiefApril 7, 2020

Bots at the Gate

An Update on Automatic Decision-Making in Canada’s Immigration and Refugee System Technology plays an increasingly important role in decisions that have a profound impact on […]

Editor-in-ChiefMarch 9, 2020

Report from Global Albinism Alliance: A Photo Essay

All photos credited to India Annamanthadoo.

Editor-in-ChiefMarch 9, 2020

Reports on Global Albinism Alliance

In January 2020, IHRP Summer Fellow India Annamanthadoo traveled to Paris for the formation of the first ever global alliance of people with albinism in […]

Editor-in-ChiefMarch 9, 2020

Interview with Rebecca Sutton ‘13

Rights Review (RR): How did you end up in law school? Rebecca Sutton (RS): I took my time getting to law school, though initially I […]

Andrea Das-WieczorekFebruary 3, 2020

The Freedom to Make Hard Choices

A recap of a film screening of Abandoned on 16 January 2020 For many couples, the news that they are expecting a child is a […]

Editor-in-ChiefFebruary 3, 2020

Hope and Democracy in Hong Kong

Guests discuss origins, implications of political protests in Hong Kong In November, the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and International Human Rights Program (IHRP) […]

Editor-in-ChiefFebruary 3, 2020

Strategies for Justice in a Period of Darkness

 Recap on Seeking Accountability in Conflict panel discussion  On December 4, 2019, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) co-hosted a […]

Adil MunimFebruary 3, 2020

Feminist Advocacy and the Law

Panelists outline journeys through legal field On a mild November evening, five women took the stage at WeirFoulds LLP to share their diverse experiences and […]

Abdullah KhanDecember 2, 2019

IHRP Alumna Profile: Interview with Ashley Major

Content warning: this interview contains mentions of sexual violence and genocide.  Ashley Major (‘17) is a William C. Graham Research Associate with the International Human […]

Editor-in-ChiefDecember 2, 2019

Spotlight on Working Groups

The International Human Rights Program (IHRP)’s Working Groups play a crucial role in increasing access to justice for vulnerable groups and spreading awareness on a […]

Liam TurnbullNovember 2, 2019

IHRP Summer Experiences: Liam Turnbull

Rights Review (RR): Which organization did you work for, and in which city and country? Liam Turnbull (LT): This summer, I worked at the United […]

Editor-in-ChiefNovember 2, 2019

IHRP Summer Experiences: Teodora Pasca

Rights Review (RR): Which organization did you work for, and in which city and country? Teodora Pasca (TP): I worked for the United Nations International […]

Spencer Nestico-SemianiwNovember 2, 2019

IHRP Summer Experiences: Spencer Nestico-Semianiw

Rights Review (RR): Which organization did you work for, and in which city and country? Spencer Nestico-Semianiw (SNS): I worked for the International Criminal Court […]

Michelle LaFortuneNovember 2, 2019

IHRP Summer Experiences: Michelle LaFortune

Rights Review (RR): Which organization did you work for, and in which city and country? Michelle LaFortune (ML): Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), in Accra, […]

Isaac GazendamNovember 2, 2019

IHRP Summer Experiences: Isaac Gazendam

Rights Review (RR): Which organization did you work for and in which city and country? Isaac Gazendam (IG): The Environment and Human Rights Division (EHR) […]

Joshua EisenNovember 2, 2019

IHRP Summer Experiences: Joshua Eisen

Rights Review (RR): Which organization did you work for, and in which city and country? Joshua Eisen (JE): I worked for Adalah —The Center for […]

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