A contribution to the elaboration of the parameters of the professional identity of the human rights field officer. It draws in part from the proceedings and outputs of a major international and inter-institutional research project on the topic of the professionalization of human rights field work that was implemented during 2004 to 2008.
The important and groundbreaking volume, The Professional Identity of the Human Rights Field Officer, completes the study of human rights field work begun in the earlier The Human Rights Field Operation: Law Theory and Practice (2007: Ashgate). Building on the critique of the field's historical development and current situation featured in the earlier volume, O'Flaherty, Ulrich and their fellow contributors focus on the specific responsibilities of the individual human rights officer, and concentrate on vital issues of professionalism beyond the confines of any specific organization. Their expansion of the analysis in the case studies section of the first volume has resulted in an up to date global edition of significant academic interest to anyone within the field of human rights law.
'This is a pathbreaking book that covers new ground and makes an insightful contribution to international human rights law...[it] should be read by everyone going into the field as a human rights officer.' Bertrand Ramcharan, former United Nations Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights/Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Sweden 'O'Flaherty has made another valuable contribution to our understanding of human rights work and the standards applicable to those who do it. This book is an insightful and thought-provoking work that is relevant to all those involved in protecting human rights as a cause or vocation. By looking at the many dimensions of human rights field work, O'Flaherty and Ulrich raise important questions and give much-needed guidance for this new profession.' Peggy Hicks, Global Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch 'During the last two decades, a fascinating new profession has emerged: the multi-talented human rights field worker ... In their new book, Michael O'Flaherty and George Ulrich describe the development and professional identity of human rights field workers and provide them with a first set of Guiding Principles and Statement of Ethical Commitments.' Manfred Nowak, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
