The Law Office of Dr. Curtis F.J. Doebbler

We get many questions from students, retired people, young people, a variety of people asking us how they can get involved in international human rights work.

 

A: International human rights law applies to all people and all people have a right and a responsibility to ensure it is respected. How well you contribute to this responsibility depends on how much you want to learn about the law and how to implement. It is not necessary to be a lawyer to work in the field of international human rights law.

A: Depending on where you are studying your options may vary. If you are an undergraduate at an American university you will likely want to study international relations or politics before studying law. If you are an undergraduate law student at an European university you may be required to complete your basic courses in your country's domestic law before taking specialized courses in international human rights law. In any case, you will want to learn as much as you can about how the international community works and especially how the United Nations works.

A: If you are a law student at an American law school you will likely want to take as many course s as you can in international law and international human rights law. If you are a law student at an European university you may be required to complete your basic courses in your country's domestic law before taking specialized courses in international human rights law, but again as soon as you can you will likely want to take as many course s as you can in international law and international human rights law.

A: Many people whose human rights are violated hire human rights lawyers. However, also note that many people whose human rights are violated cannot afford to hire human rights lawyers. Therefore be prepared to do some unpaid work.

A: Today there are several large NGOs (for example, International-Lawyers.Org, Nord-Sud XXI, Al-Haq, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, etc.), government offices (especially Foreign Ministries and Ministries of Justice), and inter-governmental organizations (for example, the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights). However, also note that as many people whose human rights are violated cannot afford human rights lawyers, you should not expect to become rich from working in the field of international human rights law and may become quite impoverished.

A: Look at the world around you and travel to places you see human rights being violated. You can also advertise on the internet, where permitted by law. You can also speak with NGOs that may be in contact with people whose human rights are violated or threatened.