Carr Center for Human Rights Policy

Type Research Center
Location Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Website www.hks.harvard.edu/cchrp

The Carr Center for Human Rights Policy is a research center concerned with human rights, and is located at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

The mission of the Carr Center «is to train future leaders for careers in public service and to apply first-class research to the solution of public policy problems.»[1] The Center's research, teaching and writing are guided by a commitment to make human rights principles central to the formulation of public policy throughout the world.

The Carr Center was founded in 1999 by Kennedy School alumnus Greg Carr, and has since developed a focus on genocide, mass atrocity, state failure and the ethics and politics of military intervention, social movements, and modern-day slavery. The Carr Center also houses a number of projects, including, the Right to Water Initiative, Afghan Students Initiative, the Kashmir Initiative, the Latin America Initiative, as well as study groups about gender and security, and transitional justice.

The Center was previously directed by Michael Ignatieff (2000-2005), Sarah Sewall (2005-2008), and by Rory Stewart (2009-2010). The founding Executive Director of the Center is current National Security Council member Samantha Power, and held the position from 1998-2002. Charlie Clements currently serves as Executive Director.

Fellows who are or have been associated with the Center include William Arkin, Roméo Dallaire, Caroline Elkins, Sally Fegan-Wyles, Omer Ismail, Andrea Rossi, Beena Sarwar, William F. Schulz, and Taslima Nasrin.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Carr Center, like the Kennedy School, is to train future leaders for careers in public service and to apply first-class research to the solution of public policy problems. Our research, teaching and writing are guided by a commitment to make human rights principles central to the formulation of good public policy in United States and throughout the world.

Since its founding in 1999 through a gift from Kennedy School alumnus Greg Carr, the Center has developed a unique focus of expertise on the most dangerous and intractable human rights challenges of the new century, including genocide, mass atrocity, state failure and the ethics and politics of military intervention.

In approaching such challenges, we seek to lead public policy debate, to train human rights leaders and to partner with human rights organizations to help them respond to current and future challenges. We also recognize that the solutions to such problems must involve not only human rights actors, but governments, corporations, the military and others not traditionally perceived as being "human rights" efforts. Thus, we seek to expand the reach and relevance of human rights considerations to all who influence their outcomes.

The Center uses its convening power to create a safe space for human rights organizations and other policy actors to engage in constructive self-criticism and to forge new partnerships.

The Center uses its research capacity to evaluate the human rights policies of the United States and other governments and to analyze the dilemmas that need to be resolved when human rights principles are brought to bear on major public policy choices.

The Center uses its teaching capacity to inspire future leaders to make respect for human rights principles a central commitment of democratic leadership.

Current Programs

Human Rights Professional Interest Council (HRPIC) is a student-led organization at HKS committed to exploring and better understanding human rights in practice. Activities this year will include career events, writing opportunities, and monthly "HR Lab" sessions, where the PIC brings students and practitioners together to discuss and analyze specific HR issues.

Former Programs

A list of former programs can be found on the Carr Center's website: *http://www.hks.harvard.edu/cchrp/programareas/pastprograms.php

References

  1. Mission statement of the Carr Center, retrieved September 16, 2013

External links