Center for
International Studies
Building E38-200
292 Main Street
Cambridge, MA
02139-4307

Fax:617-253-9330
phrj@mit.edu

About the Program

Since World War II and especially in the 1990s, the language of human rights has come to occupy a central place in national and global public policy, touching virtually every aspect of human activity. While this turn to human rights has been extremely important and valuable, much remains to be done in bridging the gap between theory and practice and between promise and performance. This assumes great importance when seen in the light of the need to address the cultural and political implications of articulating human rights as universal rights. The establishment of the Program at MIT follows the realization that the time is ripe for advanced thinking on designing a better empirically grounded, culturally sensitive and ethically and politically responsible approach to human rights.

While many human activities have been subjected to ethical scrutiny under the rubric of human rights, important areas such as the global economy and science and technology that have profound implications for human welfare, security and dignity remain beyond reach. In addition, the rubric of human rights has not itself been examined critically in terms of its relationship to economy or science - in other words, how human rights constitute and are constituted by other domains of knowledge. The Program rests on the belief that a real global economy is one that protects all human rights for all, and that science and technology exist to promote human rights and dignity, not to violate them. These beliefs are only beginning to be appreciated by policy makers, activists and business leaders.

For instance, the impact of technology on human rights, in areas as diverse as information technology, biotechnology, and energy systems, is quite profound both in terms of the dangers to human security and dignity that they create and in terms of the opportunities for human well-being that they offer. The impact of human rights on technology and production systems is also beginning to be felt in technological and industrial systems in areas as diverse as hydroelectricity, mining, oil exploration and nuclear energy. Increasing attention is also being paid to the human rights responsibilities of business entities including global corporations. New efforts are underway in international organizations and civil society groups to hold corporations accountable for human rights violations, including for labor rights. Meanwhile, economic development activities, such as those designed to alleviate poverty, are being challenged and transformed by social movements demanding that economic, social and cultural rights be taken seriously.

Dam construction and struggles for human rights in India. Photos © Narmada Bachao Andolan

The faculty members at MIT have been carrying out advanced research in several areas mentioned above, and the Program provides impetus to an interdisciplinary focus on human rights. It also provides a forum at MIT where faculty members and students who are interested in human rights aspects of their work can come together for discussion and collaboration. In addition, the student community at MIT has also shown increasing attention to issues of human rights, social justice and accountability. The Program provides a resource center for them and creates opportunities for real world experience through internships and applied research.

The Program focuses its activities on the following areas:

a) The global economy and human rights including labor and environmental rights
b) Governance, political transitions and human rights
c) Development planning, public policy and human rights
d) Science & technology and human rights
e) Global security, democracy and human rights
f) Social movements, democracy and human rights; and
g) Justice and human rights, including in transitional regimes.

The Program sponsors many activities such as a Speaker series, workshops, conferences, research projects including through partnership with NGOs and international organizations, student internships, a fellowship program and a working paper series. The Program also serves as a documentation center on human rights and provides information to the MIT community on human rights resources and opportunities. Brief descriptions of these activities are found in this website.

The Program does not offer any degrees.