Tribune Archive

The Human Rights Tribune is an occasional electronic publication produced by HRI three times annually. The Tribune reaches a wide audience with analysis and information on a variety of current human rights issues. Each issue has a subject focus.

Published since 1992, the Tribune was originally a hardcopy human rights magazine available through subscription. However, in 2004 publication of the magazine was interrupted due to lack of funds. In 2005 it was relaunched as an exclusively on-line publication, available through HRI’s web page free of charge. The publication is advertised to thousands of individuals and organizations throughout the world through HRI’s e-mail listservs and web page.

On-line issues have included special features on issues such as sexual and reproductive health, conflict prevention, and economic, social and cultural rights in countries and regions including Kenya, Rwanda, Botswana, Uganda, Sudan, Serbia, Macedonia, Belarus, France, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand, the Pacific Islands, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Canada. While the majority of the content of the Tribune is published in English, articles are also accepted and published in French and Spanish.

HRI has been publishing the Human Rights Tribune since 1992. Written for human rights activists, by human rights activists, the Tribune covers the worldwide struggle for fundamental rights from the UN and other intergovernmental organizations to grassroots movements. Each issue includes three sections: Features; Reports from the Field; and Departments. Both academics and researchers draft the articles that are included in the Features section. Their task is to analyze current issues of particular concern to the human rights community, such as preparations for the upcoming UN World Conference Against Racism, or East Timor’s struggle for independence. Reports from the Field provide a forum for activists to share their experiences, challenges and accomplishments. The contributors often work directly in the human rights ‘trenches’ in countries such as Venezuela and Cambodia.

HRI has an extensive network of contacts that is drawn upon to obtain submissions for the publication. In its re-launched form, it has published leading authorities on cutting-edge topics which combine human rights and social justice in policy-oriented articles. Contributors to the Tribune in the past year have included:

Katarina Tomasevski, first Special Rapporteur on the right to education of the United Nations Human Rights Commission from 1998 to 2004;
Bruce Porter, Director of the Social Rights Advocacy Centre;
Norman Girvan, former Secretary-General of the Association of Caribbean States;
The Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action;
Katharina Rohl, Assistant to the Representative of the UN Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced people;
Kirsten Young, UNHCR Assistant Regional Representative for Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam;
Chris Chapman, Manager of the Minority Rights and Conflict Prevention Program at Minority Rights Group International
Virginia Leary, Distinguished Professor of Law, Emirita, University of New York at Buffalo and University of California at Berkeley; and
Ronald Labonte, Canada Research Chair, Globalization/Health Equity, University of Ottawa

The objective of the Tribune is to reach a broad audience with information and analysis on human rights issues. The Tribune provides a range of information – from in-depth analysis and field reports from locations around the world, to recent developments and related photographs. The Tribune appeals to policy-makers, academics, inter-governmental and nongovernmental organizations, civil society and individuals with an interest in human rights on the issues addressed.

The Human Rights Tribune archive includes:

Volume 12, Issue 2, February 2007 Good Governance (PDF)
Volume 12, Issue 1, May 2006 Migration (PDF)
Volume 11, No. 1, Winter 2005 Sexual and Reproductive Rights (PDF)
Volume 11, No. 2, Spring 2005 Conflict Prevention (PDF)
Volume 11, No.3 Autumn 2005 Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PDF)
Autumn, Volume 10, No. 1, 2004 WTO vs. The Developing World Le Traffic D’Enfants Au Canada Tribute to Sergio Vieira De Mello (PDF)
Spring, Volume 9, No. 3, 2003 The War in Iraq A Rights Culture in Eastern Europe The Science of Human Rights (PDF)
Fall, Volume 9, No. 2, 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development Human Rights and HIV/AIDS New African Partnership for Development (PDF)
Spring, Volume 9, No. 1, 2002 UN Special Session on Children Establishment of the International Criminal Court Carter’s Visit to Cube (PDF)
Fall, Volume 8, No. 2, 2001 World Conference Against Racism Human Rights and Terrorism AIDS in Africa (PDF)
Spring, Volume 8, No. 1, 2001 Americas Prepare for Racism Conference Human Rights Defender Attacked in Tunisia Kosovo Intervention: Two Years Later (PDF)
Dec. 2000, Volume 7, No. 4 Uprising in the Middle East Haiti’s Raboteau Trial Kosovo Commission Release Report (PDF)
Sept. 2000, Volume 7, No. 2-3 Conflict in Western Sahara Upate: World Conference Against Racism Archbishop Tut Addresses Law Society Aftermath of Peruvian Election (PDF)
March 2000, Volume 7, No. 1 Upcoming World Conference on Racism Impunity: Habré, the Argentine Generals, Pinochet, et al. Cuba: A Human Rights Perspective on Elian Kidnapping Brides in Kyrgystan (PDF)
December 1999, Volume 6, No. 4 WTO Encounter in Seattle Kosovo’s Housing Crisis Rwanda: Justice et Droits Humaine East Timor: The Referendum and the Violence (PDF)
September 1999, Volume 6, No. 3 New ILO Convention on Child Labour Adopted The Vatican at the UN UN Courts Big Business Neelan Tiruchelvam Assassinated 55th Commission on Human Rights NGO Access to the UN Still Under Threat Honour Killings – Pakistani Human Rights Defenders Face Death Threats (PDF)
April 1999, Volume 6, No. 2 Dérive Tunisienne Beijing Plus 5 PrepCom Nigerians go to the Polls to Choose a President Menace sur L’Indépendance des ONG Egyptiennes
January 1999, Volume 6, No. 1 Defenders’ Summit in Paris The Akayesu Verdict Pinochet Extradition on Hold 1998 EXCOM Focus on Refugees and IDPs General Assembly Adopts Defenders Declaration
September 1998, Volume 5, No. 4 L’Algérie entre le drane et le silence Interview with Special Rapporteur on Disabilities Refugee from Injustice: The Case of Little Rock Reed
July 1998, Volume 5, No. 3 Special Edition: Vienna Plus Five International NGO Forum
April 1998, Volume 5, No. 1-2 Land Mines Treaty Signed in Ottawa Algérie et droits de la personne Pinochet Advance for Vienna Plus Five Review

September 1997, Volume 4, No. 4 Irene Fenandez on Trial in Malaysia APEC’s Casualty – Human Rights First Rape Charges Brought at Rwanda Tribunal Who Did What To Whom? Building Violations Databases