On Monday 24 June2024, the Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) launched its landmark human rights tracker tool
Co-sponsored by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), HRMI is the first global project to publish a comprehensive, user-friendly database measuring how well countries are meeting their human rights obligations.
HRMI has adopted a co-design approach to ensure the data meets the needs of grassroots human rights defenders and is respected by scholars.Measuring how countries follow human rights laws has always been challenging, and numerous obstacles persist:
- no universally agreed upon standards
- difficulty of collecting reliable data across diverse contexts
- some governments’ reluctance to be transparent or accountable.
These critical gaps prevent us from assessing progress, pinpointing areas of concern, and holding governments accountable. Reliable measurements are the cornerstone of evidence-based policymaking, impactful advocacy, and international cooperation to promote and protect human rights worldwide.
The launch event brought together numerous human rights professionals, academics, and advocates.
Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC, Director of IBAHRI, opened the event by emphasising the importance of having reliable and openly accessible data on human rights compliance. She highlighted how such data informs reporting and accountability, particularly in the Universal Periodic Review process. Baroness Kennedy expressed gratitude to HRMI for providing this new tool and thanked The City Law School for supporting IBAHRI and other organizations in promoting human rights action.
Professor Richard Ashcroft, Executive Dean of the City Law School, welcomed participants and noted the difficulties and importance of developing reliable data on human rights compliance. He reminded the audience not to lose sight of aspects of human rights practice that are not easily measurable.
Thalia Kehoe Rowden , Co-Executive Director of HRMI, shared insights into HRMI’s development. She highlighted the importance of accurate measurement in driving improvements and accountability in human rights practices globally. She discussed the methodologies behind the data and various ways in which the database could be deployed by organisations to enhance governance and hold governments accountable.
Yasmine Ahmed, UK Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), provided an overview of cases where HRW utilised the HRMI data to strengthen their advocacy efforts.
The event concluded with a networking session, allowing attendees to further discuss the presentations and develop connections for future collaboration in the human rights field.
Speaking after the event, co-organiser, Dr Zammit Borda remarked:
Like gadflies, civil society organisations and scholars must take their responsibility of pressuring governments to comply with human rights obligations seriously. Their work is crucial for the vulnerable and voiceless in society, who are more likely to suffer human rights violations. The HRMI offers an important new tool for civil society, lawyers, scholars, and others to effectively carry out their mission.
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 