The proper implementation of human rights treaties is the focus of a new centre based at the University of Bristol's School of Law. The Human Rights Implementation Centre will bring together academics from a range of disciplines to develop expertise and advice on the role institutions can play in correctly implementing human rights.

The Centre will work together with human rights organisations, national institutions, governments, and statutory, constitutional and regional bodies from all over the world. These include the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Council of Europe, the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe as well as those under the United Nations.

Staff within the Centre include leaders in the field of international human rights law, which lays down obligations of governments in order to promote and protect human rights and freedom.

Rachel Murray, Professor of International Human Rights, who has written extensively on human rights in Africa and on national human rights institutions, is Director of the Centre.

Professor of Public International Law, Malcolm Evans, OBE, whose research focuses on torture and religion, is currently the Acting Director. He has also recently been appointed as a member of the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture.

Dr Elina Steinerte, the Centre’s Research Associate, has developed considerable expertise in the field of torture prevention and national institutions, through dealing with the implementation of the OPCAT, an international inspection system, which aims to prevent torture through the establishment of national and international bodies with powers to visit places of detention, for the past three years.

Prof Renate Kicker, Vice President of the European Committee on Prevention of Torture, added: ”The idea of creating this centre follows a noticeable shift in the approach of international organisations, from developing and adopting new legally binding human rights principles to focusing on compliance with obligations already entered by states. As a member of a Council of Europe expert body, tasked with the monitoring of the implementation of the prohibition of torture principle in 47 member states, I full heartedly welcome this initiative. I look forward to collaborating with the centre and hope to be able to contribute to its future work.”

The launch event will take place in the University's Graduate School of Education, 35 Berkeley Square, Bristol, on Thursday 10 September at 5.30 pm.  More information is available on the Centre's website or by contacting Elina.Steinerte@bristol.ac.uk .