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Major Research Projects

The ERISJ is conducting the following Research Projects in 2008 and invites students and skilled volunteers to assist in each project. 

 

Major Research Projects
   1   Public Use of International Human Rights Law: four parts
2 The ERISJ’s International Initiative for Indigenous Aspirations
3 A Sacred Duty: Social Justice in Jewish and Christian Scripture and Theology
4 Core Concepts, Claims and Evidence of the Social Justice project

 

Download Information Sheet on Major Research Projects (PDF 47.22Kb)

For more information on how to get involved, please contact our Volunteer and Internship Coordinator, Kate Vallentine.  Tel +61(8) 9432 2410.

Project 1: Public Use of International Human Rights Law: four parts
  • Part 1: Locate, record and provide link to verbatim versions of key international human rights laws & conventions. Most of these are on various websites (UN, etc), and it’s mainly a matter of stating the convention by name, and a link to it.
     
  • Part 2: Identify and restate verbatim key paragraphs, sentences and clauses in key international human rights laws & conventions. The precise clause number would be stated prior to each clause, so that it is easy to refer to in letters (see below).
     
  • Part 3: Gather existing plain-English summaries/simplifications of key documents. Where these cannot be found for key conventions and treaties, consider (optional) preparing your own.
     
  • Part 4: Prepare numerous sample letter templates addressed to VIPs that utilise these verbatim ‘chapter and verse’ extracts to raise/contest International Law violations in which key organisations are complicit or unconcerned, etc. These would be variously addressed to UN Sec-Gen, PM of Aust, President of USA, World Bank, ILO, etc. The letter would specify the postal and email address of each, giving the letter-writer the option of the medium of posting.
Project 2: The ERISJ’s International Initiative for Indigenous Aspirations

We aim to document accomplishments within indigenous communities in Australia, NZ, Canada and the USA. The intention is to record success stories, identifying ‘what is working’. We will collect these resources to:

  • disseminate ‘best practice’ developments between indigenous people;
  • broaden the knowledge of policy actors of all races; and
  • promote public understanding of positive parts of the journey of indigenous peoples.

This is not about a rose-coloured view of existing problems. Rather, it is to convey that the glass is half-full as well as half-empty. Numerous research positions are available for this project.

Project 3: A Sacred Duty: Social Justice in Jewish and Christian Scripture and Theology

This is a 65,000 word book, edited by ERISJ Director David Freeman. Half has already been written and we are aiming for the manuscript to be complete by late 2008-early 2009. Several research, editing and administrative roles to support the completion are still available.

Project 4: Core Concepts, Claims and Evidence of the Social Justice project

This 8000-word article is currently being prepared by ERISJ Director David Freeman. It will suggest the core insights of the Social Justice project unifying understanding and research from across sociology, political science, philosophy and economics. It will be published in late 2008.

Each of these major projects are under the leadership of the ERISJ Director, David Freeman. Volunteer researchers and interns are coordinated by Kate Vallentine, Volunteer and Internship Coordinator.

Want to get involved?

Please email the ERISJ Volunteer and Internship Coordinator to discuss Volunteer Training and Induction, or Tel: 9432-2410.  For more information on becoming a Volunteer, please visit our Volunteering & Internship page.