HRJust

Human Rights Justifications

News

Latest updates, policy briefs, and findings from the HRJust project.

  • New Report Exploring how Human Rights are Used to Justify State Action in Sweden

    HRJust has published a new report exploring how human rights are used within Swedish legislative processes and how civil society responds. In the report, authors Maria Nääv and Haidar Al-amirtaha, examine what we refer to as Human Rights Justifications (HRJs), where the state invokes human rights to support or legitimise its own proposals. Drawing on…

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    HRJust Early Alert — April to August

    A new round of public consultations is open, highlighting goverment inquiries and proposals that may have implications for human rights in Sweden. This curated list points to current state inquiries where civil society voices are both relevant and needed. Even if your organization has not been formally invited to respond, you still have the opportunity…

  • New Publication Exploring Russia’s Use of Human Rights Justifications in Defense of its Invasion of Ukraine

    Human rights are conventionally conceptualised as normative safeguards that enable individuals to hold States accountable. However, an emerging line of inquiry examines a more complex dynamic: the invocation of human rights by States themselves as justificatory tools for their own actions. In this chapter, Maria Grahn-Farley develops the concept of human rights justifications, referring to…

  • Highlights from the Nordic Rule of Law Forum 2025

    Last week, the HRJust project had the privilege of co-hosting the Nordic Rule of Law Forum 2025 together with Civil Rights Defenders. The forum brought together researchers, legal experts, civil society actors, and policymakers to engage in critical discussions on the rule of law and the evolving role of human rights in state practice. Researchers…

  • HRJust Workshop at Stockholm University: Exploring Human Rights Justifications in Practice

    Last week, the HRJust project hosted a full-day workshop at Stockholm University, bringing together researchers, civil society actors, and international partners to explore the implications of states invoking human rights as justification for policy and governance. Participants included collaborators from Academia Sinica and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), alongside representatives from civil society organisations and…

  • Seminar on Human Rights Protection in Sweden in a Global Context

    On 10 November, the HRJust project hosted a seminar examining recent developments in human rights protection in Sweden and their connection to broader global trends of democratic decline. The event featured a keynote presentation by John Stauffer, Legal Director and Deputy Executive Director of Civil Rights Defenders. In his talk, “The State of Human Rights…

  • Event in Taipei Explores Democratic Backsliding and Its Global Implications

    As part of the HRJust project’s engagement in Taipei, we were honoured to host a public event addressing the pressing issue of democratic backsliding and its implications for human rights and the rule of law. Held at Touat Bookstore, an activist-run cooperative space known for fostering critical dialogue. the event featured a keynote by John…

  • Advancing Transnational Dialogue on Human Rights Justifications

    We are pleased to share the successful launch of the Taiwan-based WP4 (COVID-19) team within the HRJust project. The event series, held in Taipei, brought together a diverse group of scholars, practitioners, and civil society actors from across Europe and Asia, marking an important step in strengthening both academic collaboration and civil society engagement. This…

  • Meeting with the EU Office in Taipei

    On 11 November, HRJust had the pleasure of meeting with Lukas Gajdos, Deputy Head of the EU Office in Taipei. The HRJust delegation included Maria Grahn-Farley, Shun-Ling Chen, and Ya-Wen Yang. The meeting provided an opportunity to present and discuss research findings from the HRJust project, as well as to exchange perspectives on ongoing developments…

  • An Evening of Dialogue on Human Rights and Legal Research

    HRJust had the pleasure of participating in an engaging evening dedicated to the exchange of ideas, collaboration, and ongoing efforts to advance human rights law. We extend our sincere thanks to Swedish Ambassador Helena Reitberger for her generous hospitality in hosting the event. The gathering provided an opportunity to present HRJust research to distinguished guests,…