Learning International Human Rights Research Helen Frazer, JD, LLM, MLS UDC-DCSL, Mason Law Library Spring, 2010

Stages of Research Process Task Initiation – feeling uncertain Topic Selection – feeling oriented Prefocus Exploration – more uncertainty Focus Formulation – feeling confident Information Collection – optimism Search Closure – begin writing Carol C. Kuhlthau, Seeking Meaning: A Process Approach to Library and Information Services (1993)

Stage 1 - Task Initiation, Thinking Think about the assignment How do I find a writing topic? Who makes international human rights law? Where can I find the law? How do I update it? Where can I find analyses of the law?

Stage 1 – Prepare Start a Research Log Title of the resource Citation Take notes, make copies Date you used the source Keep The Bluebook with you Consult a legal writing manual Fajans & Falk, Scholarly Writing for Law Students Eugene Volokh, Academic Legal Writing

Stage 1 - Background Information Find background information Encyclopedias Treatises Mason Library Catalog, Make Research Log notes: Title and call number Date Topics browsed

Stage 2: Pick a Topic Browse the Encyclopedia of Human Rights Note the topic bibliographies for more sources. Browse Oxford Reports on International Law, Find topics in other ways: Topics in the news Friends and professor Related to your legal interests/career plans Keep notes of your search in your Research Log

Topic Example: Human Trafficking Get background information Encyclopedia, research guides, etc. Encyclopedia of Human Rights, Index, vol. 5 Research Log – enter the index citation “human trafficking, 2: ; 3:391.” 2 = volume 2; 3 = volume = bolded page numbers; section topic 391= nonbolded page numbers; section subtopic

Background Example: Encyclopedia Encyclopedia of Human Rights, 2: Research Log Author of article: Howard B. Tolley Jr. Organizations mentioned: International Labour Organization (ILO) UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODOC) International Organization on Migration

Take Notes; Focus on Law Brief history of trafficking Prior to 2000, international treaties applied mainly to transport of women & children for prostitution 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime – 3 protocols, including: Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children  Includes men  Includes other kinds of abuses  Servitude, organ removal, forced labor, etc.

Use the Article’s Bibliography Bibliography, vol. 2, p. 501 Primary Works, examples: UN and ILO documents/studies of human trafficking   (press releases) US documents on human trafficking  Secondary Works, examples: Books/treatises on human trafficking Articles on human trafficking Note sources in Research Log or make copy

Stage 3 – Prefocus Exploration: Narrow Your Topic & Find Sources Look up subtopics in Encyclopedia of Human Rights E.g., slavery in a country, Enforcement of trafficking laws, Research log – follow same note-taking process Find books & articles from the Bibliographies Look for online research guides Because human rights law is complex Most guides and sources are online Make notes of your research; gather materials

Research Guides Online American Society of International Law, University research guides NYU GlobaLex, Georgetown Law Library Human Rights Law Research Guide, Minnesota Human Rights Library Bibliography, Other sources – example: LLRX.com,

Books Treatises OPAC, E.g., author from Bibliography: Kevin Bales, The Slave Next Door (2009), in the collection New Slavery (2005), not in the collection Interlibrary loan, Librarian Gail Mathapo, JD,

Periodicals Journal articles HeinOnline, ions, sample search: ions Click on “Law Journal Library” Enter in search box: “human trafficking” Interlibrary loan Lexis & Westlaw; UDC online databases

Indexes for Journal Articles Current Law Index (LegalTrac) Index to Legal Periodicals and Books Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals See Library Databases page: (Comprehensive Periodical Indexes)

Online Databases Online databases offer: Citation Searching Boolean Searching (e.g., “and,” “or,” etc.) HeinOnline, Subscribed Libraries Lexis, Law Reviews, CLE, Legal Journals & Periodicals, Combined Westlaw, All Law Reviews, Texts & Bar Journals (TP-ALL)

Research Log Remember to take notes Write down the citation (Bluebook form) Make copies of useful materials you find

Stage 4: Focus Formulation Read your notes List possible topics Consider pros and cons Choose a focus

Stage 5: Information Collection Collect materials from the Law Library Make copies of online materials Ask for materials on interlibrary loan Start taking detailed notes of your readings Ask a librarian for help, if necessary

Ask a Librarian Brief questions: at the Reference Desk More extensive help: Make an Appointment Call , ask for a librarian a librarian,

Stage 5: Find Treaty Law Online Treaties to which the US is a party: HeinOnline, Regional Treaties, examples Council of Europe treaties, African Union, United Nations Conventions, Update the treaties – see online research guides

Stage 5: Find Legislation Online Council of Europe The EU Race Directive, lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:3 2000L0043:en:HTMLhttp://eur- lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:3 2000L0043:en:HTML National Legislatures British Parliament: UK Human Rights Act of 1998, 42_en_1 42_en_1 For more legislation: see 4 Encyclopedia of Human Rights 58 (2009 ed.), Ref. JC 471.E673

Stage 5: Find Case Law Online International Labour Organization (ILO), Council of Europe European Court of Human Rights, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, International Court of Justice, Et cetera: See various online research guides.

Stage 5: UN Research Foundations UN Website, History, e.g., Origin Founding documents Decisionmaking bodies How are UN documents published?, How are documents cited & updated?,

Stage 5: United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, International Human Rights Law, International Bill of Human Rights documents, UN Human Rights Treaties Collection, Eight UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies (committees),

Stage 5: UN Research Guides UN Documentation Research Guide, ASIL, Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law: United Nations, NYU GlobaLex Guide, Columbia, United Nations, Georgetown, United Nations Research Guide, NYU, United Nations Research Guide, rch/index.htm rch/index.htm

Stage 6: Search Closure Recheck your sources Get any sources that are missing Confirm that you have the citation information for each one Keep the books until you finish the paper Start Writing

Ask a Librarian Make an Appointment Call , ask for a librarian a librarian,