PhD Researcher "The receptor approach and public international law" (1,0 fte)
Job description
SIM will be appointing three PhD researchers to engage in
research on the so-called ‘receptor approach to human rights’. The
receptor approach identifies the social institutions which are already
in place in a given country to meet international human rights
requirements, and it indicates how these institutions may be improved if
they fall short of those requirements. By relying as much as possible
on home-grown remedies, the receptor approach sets out to do justice to
local culture and, at the same time, to enhance international human
rights protection, especially in areas where such enhancement is most
needed (see Tom Zwart, Using Local Culture to Further the Implementation
of International Human Rights: The Receptor Approach, 34 (2012) Human
Rights Quarterly, pp. 546-569). The project is being funded by the Dutch
Foreign Office. The following topic will be researched:
The receptor approach and public international law
The
PhD researcher covering this topic will look into the question if and
how the receptor approach matches the requirements set by public
international law regarding human rights. Thus, the receptor approach
assumes that human rights may be implemented through non-legal means
like culture and social institutions; that countries may retain their
own – traditional – value system when they become signatories to human
rights treaties; that the individual-versus-the-state paradigm is one
but certainly not the only way to bring human rights to fruition; that
the state can discharge its responsibility for implementing human rights
obligations by leaving it mainly to non-state actors like the family
and the community to realise human rights. The question is whether and
how these elements of the receptor approach can be fitted into public
international law regarding human rights.
Requirements
Applicants for this position are expected to have a master's
degree, profound knowledge of public international law regarding human
rights, exemplified by having completed an LLM in this area. Having
working experience within an international institution governed by
public international law and being familiar with TWAIL and other
critical approaches to international are considered assets in this
regard.
The researchers for all three topics are expected to write a PhD thesis
in a timely fashion under the supervision of the director of the
Receptor Project, Prof. Tom Zwart; to participate in and contribute to
the activities of the School; to enroll in the School’s PhD training
program; and to prepare papers for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
Approximately 80% of the time will be devoted to researching and
writing the thesis, while 20% will be spent on other activities,
including taking courses.
Conditions of employment
We offer a PhD position with a gross monthly salary starting at €
2,062 in the first year to € 2,638 in the fourth year of employment.
The successful candidates will be offered an initial contract as a PhD
student for 18 months. Upon positive evaluation of the PhD students’
performance the contract will be extended by 2,5 years. We offer a
pension scheme, a holiday allowance of 8% per year and flexible
employment conditions. Conditions are based on the Collective Employment
Agreement of the Dutch Universities.
The starting date will be September 1st, 2013. The PhD researchers will
be based at the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance of Utrecht
University.
Organisation
Utrecht University has great ambitions for its teaching
quality and study success rates. This also applies to its clear research
profiles which are centred around four themes: Sustainability, Life
Sciences, Youth & Identity, and Institutions. Utrecht University
plays a prominent role in our society and contributes to finding the
answers to topical and future societal issues.
With 4000 students and 500 employees the Faculty of Law, Economics and
Governance is one of the largest faculties of Utrecht University. It is
also one of the oldest and is housed in some 10 historical buildings in
the centre of the city of Utrecht. Thanks to a broad range of
departments, renowned research institutes and an outstandingly equipped
library, the organisation is an active part of society.
The Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM), the Utrecht branch of
the Netherlands School of Human Rights Research, is a research institute
of the School of Law. Through its research program on Human Rights in a
World of Conflict and Diversity, SIM participates in the focus area
Conflicts and Human Rights. SIM is the Utrecht member of the Netherlands
School of Human Rights Research, a consortium of six Dutch universities
and the T.M.C. Asser Institute, which have pooled their resources in
the area of human rights research. The School focuses in particular on
multidisciplinary research on human rights in Asia and Africa, which is
exemplified by the Receptor Project.
Additional information
Questions about the Receptor Project and the vacancies can be addressed to Tom Zwart, by
email and phone +316 2705 2580.
More information about employer
Utrecht University
on AcademicTransfer.
Direct link to this job opening:
www.academictransfer.com/18618
