Research Handbook on Accountability for Human Rights Violations
Published on 31. October 2025
Book
Hardback
666 pages
978-1-0353-0692-3 (ISBN)
Description
Despite the expansion of the human rights paradigm, not only in terms of the variety of rights recognized - both general rights and those for particular groups - but also in terms of available supervisory mechanisms and remedies, multiple challenges can still be identified for the realization of the effective enjoyment of fundamental rights.
This thought-provoking Research Handbook explores accountability for human rights violations in terms of international law from a rich spectrum of angles. A conceptual angle, investigating the broader understanding of 'accountability', is followed by explorations of the who (can be held accountable), for (the violation of) what (rights), how (following what supervisory mechanisms) and to what extent (leading to what remedies). These angles translate into the five main parts of the Research Handbook and are complemented by a sixth part with contemporary case studies whereby, in each case study, the focus will be placed on a particular accountability challenge.
Kristin Henrard and Michelle Duin bring together contributions from a wide variety of authors, including both established experts and emerging scholars in the fields of public international law and international human rights law.
The Research Handbook on Accountability for Human Rights Violations is a vital resource for students and academics in law and public policy. Its valuable insights into human rights violations will also greatly benefit human rights policymakers and practitioners in international and humanitarian law.
This thought-provoking Research Handbook explores accountability for human rights violations in terms of international law from a rich spectrum of angles. A conceptual angle, investigating the broader understanding of 'accountability', is followed by explorations of the who (can be held accountable), for (the violation of) what (rights), how (following what supervisory mechanisms) and to what extent (leading to what remedies). These angles translate into the five main parts of the Research Handbook and are complemented by a sixth part with contemporary case studies whereby, in each case study, the focus will be placed on a particular accountability challenge.
Kristin Henrard and Michelle Duin bring together contributions from a wide variety of authors, including both established experts and emerging scholars in the fields of public international law and international human rights law.
The Research Handbook on Accountability for Human Rights Violations is a vital resource for students and academics in law and public policy. Its valuable insights into human rights violations will also greatly benefit human rights policymakers and practitioners in international and humanitarian law.
Reviews / Votes
'Accountability for violations of human rights is a critical frontier in international law and practice. The Research Handbook on Accountability for Human Rights Violations brings together experts on this topic from many different backgrounds, and offers both inspiration and practical guidance. The Handbook explores theories of accountability as well as their translation in diverse legal systems, skilfully deploying case studies to illuminate this complex field.' -- Judge Hilary Charlesworth, Judge at the International Court of Justice 'A stellar line-up of authors explores a set of structural issues underlying human rights law under the umbrella concept of "accountability," in its many different dimensions. The individual chapters are rich with insights, and I'm sure this book will be read for many years to come.' -- Marko Milanovic, University of Reading, UK 'Accountability is a popular but ambiguous notion in global governance, more often and more easily invoked than actually studied and analyzed. Human rights are conceptually not much less ambiguous, and despite the existence of a considerable corpus of judicial interpretation, human rights remain somewhat elusive and, more importantly, too often remain empty promises. Against this background, this volume on accountability for human rights violations brings everything one could legitimately expect from a Handbook, comprehensively discussing the concept of accountability, discussing the accountability regimes applicable to different groups of actors, and answering questions such as accountability for what, by whom, and institutions and remedies. This is further given hands and feet by means of case-studies on discrete topics: LGBTQI treatment, forced displacement, and military operations abroad, to name but a few. This very well-conceived Handbook is bound to set the tone and the agenda for future work.' -- Jan Klabbers, Helsinki University, Finland and Cambridge University, UK 'In a world where the demands for justice vastly outstrip its supply, Henrard and Duin's Research Handbook on Accountability for Human Rights Violations is a much-needed and nuanced exploration of the intricacies of carving a path towards accountability for human rights violations. The volume's multi-disciplinary approach and the expertise of its authors both serve to illuminate and unpick thorny questions surrounding how "accountability" is understood, who can (and should) be held accountable, and what supervisory mechanisms and remedies are available. Thought-provoking and necessary, the Handbook's insights will enrich the work of those grappling with human rights violations committed by state and non-state actors, and with the associated, and often long-standing, accountability challenges.' -- Sareta Ashraph, Barrister and Lecturer, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Switzerland; Senior Adviser, Center for Justice and AccountabilityMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 169 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-0692-3 (9781035306923)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited by Kristin Henrard, Professor, Brussels School of Governance and Michelle Duin, Legal Officer, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Content
Contents
PART I INTRODUCTION TO ACCOUNTABILITY
1 The concept of accountability
Carolyn Moser
2 Accountability in international law
Karen de Vos and Jan Wouters
PART II WHO AND TO WHOM: ACTORS
3 (Extra)territorial obligations of states
Marten Zwanenburg
4 The territorial state's human rights obligations in areas of limited statehood
Linda Hamid
5 The employment of human rights to demand accountability for activities of
international organizations harming individuals
Lorenzo Gasbarri
6 Non-governmental organization's accountability for human rights abuses:
discourses, developments, and dangers
Math Noortmann
7 Corporate accountability for human rights abuses
Justine Nolan
8 Accountability and non-state organised armed groups
Helen Duffy
9 Individuals (international criminal law)
Stefanie Wilhem-Jansen
PART III FOR WHAT: NORM SECTION
10 Accountability for violations of civil and political rights: redress within
and beyond the penal frame
Mattia Pinto and Natasa Mavronicola
11 Accountability for violations of economic, social and cultural rights
Annick Pijnenburg
12 Children's rights and accountability under international law
Dr Gamze Erdem Tuerkelli
13 Accountability challenges for minorities' (equal enjoyment of)
fundamental rights: vague norms, states' sovereignty and legitimacy
concerns of international courts
Kristin Henrard
14 Legal accountability, human rights and the environment: identifying
thresholds and (im)possibilities
Michelle Duin
15 Accountability for the violation of the right to development: prospects and
challenges
Professor Serges Djoyou Kamga
PART IV IN WHAT WAY: SUPERVISORY MECHANISMS AND MODUS OPERANDI
16 Accountability at the Human Rights Council
Sangeeta Shah and Rosa Freedman
17 The ombuds' role in holding states accountable for human rights
violations: persuasion and legal mechanisms
Carlos Alberto Alza
18 (Quasi) courts and issues of standing of individuals
Vera Shikhelman
19 The burden and standard of proof in international human rights courts
Tobias Thienel
20 Standards of review in international courts
Shai Dothan
21 Securing accountability for systemic human rights violations in Europe?
Taking stock of pilot judgments
Alice Donald and Philip Leach
PART V TO WHAT EXTENT: REMEDIES AND COMPLIANCE
22 Accountability in human rights law: an introduction to remedies
Dinah Shelton
23 Accountability in international complaint procedures and the use of
interim measures in urgent cases
Eva Rieter
24 Reparations in the form of restitution and compensation before selected
human rights mechanisms
Gentian Zyberi
25 Legislative measures as remedies for violations of international human
rights law in the three regional systems
26 Accountability through supervision mechanisms - the example of the
European human rights system
Veronika Fikfak
PART VI CASE STUDIES
27 Accountability for LGBTI human rights violations
Kseniya A Kirichenko
28 Accountability for human rights violations in the context of forced displacement
Geoff Gilbert
29 Human rights at sea: boat disasters and the accountability of the EU and its
member states
Mariana Gkliati
30 Addressing statelessness: evaluating the performance of UN monitoring
mechanisms
Vera Karanika, Stefania Tantimonaco and Laura van Waas
31 Human rights, climate change and remedies
Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh and Melina Antoniadis
32 Extraterritorial military action and human rights: accountability and its challenges
Leander Beinlich
33 Blurred lines of responsibility for human rights abuses at mega-sporting events
Dr Daniela Heerdt
34 Duties of the individual in international human rights law
Mando Rachovitsa
PART I INTRODUCTION TO ACCOUNTABILITY
1 The concept of accountability
Carolyn Moser
2 Accountability in international law
Karen de Vos and Jan Wouters
PART II WHO AND TO WHOM: ACTORS
3 (Extra)territorial obligations of states
Marten Zwanenburg
4 The territorial state's human rights obligations in areas of limited statehood
Linda Hamid
5 The employment of human rights to demand accountability for activities of
international organizations harming individuals
Lorenzo Gasbarri
6 Non-governmental organization's accountability for human rights abuses:
discourses, developments, and dangers
Math Noortmann
7 Corporate accountability for human rights abuses
Justine Nolan
8 Accountability and non-state organised armed groups
Helen Duffy
9 Individuals (international criminal law)
Stefanie Wilhem-Jansen
PART III FOR WHAT: NORM SECTION
10 Accountability for violations of civil and political rights: redress within
and beyond the penal frame
Mattia Pinto and Natasa Mavronicola
11 Accountability for violations of economic, social and cultural rights
Annick Pijnenburg
12 Children's rights and accountability under international law
Dr Gamze Erdem Tuerkelli
13 Accountability challenges for minorities' (equal enjoyment of)
fundamental rights: vague norms, states' sovereignty and legitimacy
concerns of international courts
Kristin Henrard
14 Legal accountability, human rights and the environment: identifying
thresholds and (im)possibilities
Michelle Duin
15 Accountability for the violation of the right to development: prospects and
challenges
Professor Serges Djoyou Kamga
PART IV IN WHAT WAY: SUPERVISORY MECHANISMS AND MODUS OPERANDI
16 Accountability at the Human Rights Council
Sangeeta Shah and Rosa Freedman
17 The ombuds' role in holding states accountable for human rights
violations: persuasion and legal mechanisms
Carlos Alberto Alza
18 (Quasi) courts and issues of standing of individuals
Vera Shikhelman
19 The burden and standard of proof in international human rights courts
Tobias Thienel
20 Standards of review in international courts
Shai Dothan
21 Securing accountability for systemic human rights violations in Europe?
Taking stock of pilot judgments
Alice Donald and Philip Leach
PART V TO WHAT EXTENT: REMEDIES AND COMPLIANCE
22 Accountability in human rights law: an introduction to remedies
Dinah Shelton
23 Accountability in international complaint procedures and the use of
interim measures in urgent cases
Eva Rieter
24 Reparations in the form of restitution and compensation before selected
human rights mechanisms
Gentian Zyberi
25 Legislative measures as remedies for violations of international human
rights law in the three regional systems
26 Accountability through supervision mechanisms - the example of the
European human rights system
Veronika Fikfak
PART VI CASE STUDIES
27 Accountability for LGBTI human rights violations
Kseniya A Kirichenko
28 Accountability for human rights violations in the context of forced displacement
Geoff Gilbert
29 Human rights at sea: boat disasters and the accountability of the EU and its
member states
Mariana Gkliati
30 Addressing statelessness: evaluating the performance of UN monitoring
mechanisms
Vera Karanika, Stefania Tantimonaco and Laura van Waas
31 Human rights, climate change and remedies
Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh and Melina Antoniadis
32 Extraterritorial military action and human rights: accountability and its challenges
Leander Beinlich
33 Blurred lines of responsibility for human rights abuses at mega-sporting events
Dr Daniela Heerdt
34 Duties of the individual in international human rights law
Mando Rachovitsa