Message from the Director
CHRRJ takes a broad approach to human rights and restorative justice. It approaches human rights not simply as legalistic entitlements, but also as ethical claims founded on cross-cultural notions of human dignity and wellbeing. Its approach to restorative justice emphasizes responsibility, redress, peacebuilding and societal repair. The work of CHRRJ is founded on the belief that collective acknowledgment of past atrocities, redress of present abuses, reflection and repair through restorative justice processes can help build more equitable and inclusive societies. This, in turn, can foster civic engagement and democratic participation.
Director
About CHRRJ
The Centre for Human Rights and Restorative Justice (CHRRJ) is a McMaster research centre dedicated to the multidisciplinary and transnational study of human rights and restorative justice processes around the world. It aims to address historical atrocities and contemporary human rights violations as well as explore the ways in which societies seek to rebuild and repair in the aftermath of conflict.
CHRRJ brings together a network of expert scholars, policymakers, human rights and peacebuilding practitioners, community leaders and other stakeholders to study the impacts and legacies of human rights violations alongside the restorative justice mechanisms established to address these violations. In order to achieve the overarching goal of advancing McMaster’s research excellence in the interdisciplinary domain of human rights and transformative justice, the primary objectives of CHRRJ are the following:
- To provide a platform for the sustained study of global human rights conditions and transitional justice projects, including the research infrastructure necessary for archiving data and resources that enable the exploration and analyses of collective memories of human rights violations and post-conflict peacebuilding.
- To provide excellent research training and create networking opportunities for CHRRJ members and graduate students.
- To engage in sustained knowledge mobilization and outreach to key stakeholders through activities that include but are not limited to policy consultancy, education in media literacy, and community engagement.
Our Activities
Expandable List
This set of CHRRJ activities centre around clusters of researchers, practitioners and students working on topics within the broad mandate of the centre. Research within these clusters can take two forms: 1) Collaborative projects initiated by two or more members that align with the Centre’s goal and objectives; 2) New or ongoing individual projects by members related to at least one of CHRRJ’s research clusters that is supported by the Centre’s resources and networks. The Centre provides the conditions for fruitful interactions within and between clusters. This includes organising workshops on topics that cut across individual and cluster projects. Additional details regarding the initial themes designated for research clusters are provided in section 1.4 below.
CHRRJ provides research and practitioner training on human rights, memory studies and restorative justice to undergraduate and graduate students affiliated with the Centre. Students work with members and have opportunities to collaborate with the Centre’s network of members and affiliates. CHRRJ runs a summer internship program for High School students in the Hamilton community to give them an opportunity to receive experiential learning in human rights and social justice research. The Centre works with local youth charities to grant these internships.
CHRRJ communicates research knowledge through hosting and sponsoring annual workshops and international conferences. Summer Workshops are a unique opportunity for growth and cross-disciplinary knowledge exchange on human rights and social justice research and advocacy. The workshops are be open to academics, NGO workers, practitioners and policymakers. The Centre’s research and programs disseminated through academic publications, policy briefs and media commentaries.