ONU Law Professor Jean-Marie Kamatali will present on the groundbreaking Human Rights Database and Analysis (HRDA) Project, an initiative designed to address a critical global need: a centralized, comprehensive resource for documenting human rights conditions and identifying patterns of violations around the world. The Fisher Chair Lecture is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 11 a.m. in Tilton Hall, Room 129.
While human rights violations are documented by the media, the United Nations, and other organizations - information remains scattered across sources, regions, subject areas, and reporting periods - making it difficult to recognize recurring patterns, assess progress, and identify persistent gaps in accountability. In a world where failures to recognize and address human rights abuses can carry devastating consequences, access to comprehensive, reliable information is essential to protecting human dignity and advancing accountability.
Developed through three years of intensive, collaborative work led by Professor Kamatali during his tenure as the Ella A. and Ernest H. Fisher Chair of Law, the HRDA Project draws on reports from the United Nations Universal Periodic Review to create a searchable database documenting human rights conditions in every country. The project also features analytical infographics that help users track progress, setbacks, and persistent challenges across human rights themes and reporting cycles.
As a Rwandan genocide survivor, Professor Kamatali brings a deeply personal perspective to the importance of documenting human rights abuses and ensuring that patterns of violations are recognized rather than overlooked. Join us to learn how this innovative resource can turn fragmented reporting into a clearer picture of global human rights conditions—and help support the informed analysis and accountability needed to address ongoing violations.