Book: Social Institutions and International Human Rights Law Implementation
Every organ of society
Through an interdisciplinary case study of Islam in Indonesia, Dr. Julie Fraser demonstrates the power of social institutions like religion to promote human rights compliant positions and behaviours. Her book Social Institutions and International Human Rights Law Implementation is out now, at Cambridge University Press.
This book examines the traditional State-centric and legalistic approach to implementation, critiquing its limited efficacy in practice and failure to connect with local cultures. The book therefore explores the permissibility of other measures of implementation, and advocates more culturally sensitive approaches involving social institutions. Through an interdisciplinary case study of Islam in Indonesia, the book demonstrates the power of social institutions like religion to promote rights compliant positions and behaviours.
Like the preamble of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the book reiterates the role not just of the State but indeed 'every organ of society' in realising rights.
Award-winning dissertation
Dr. Julie Fraser was awarded the Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award 2019 for her dissertation Every organ of society, on which this book is based. It is a revised version of her PhD. She won the award because according to the jury, she went beyond traditional research methodolgies, doing field work in Indonesia, and in addition, her research provided a new take on an old issue - the relationship between human rights and culture.
About dr Julie Fraser
Julie Fraser is Assistant Professor with the Netherlands Insitute of Human Rights (SIM) and the Montaigne Centre at Utrecht University. She currently teaches in the bachelor and master programmes, including Public International Law, International Criminal Law, Transitional Justice, and International Human Rights Law.
As part of her doctoral research, Julie assisted the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women with their 65th session in Geneva in 2016, and undertook field research in Java, Indonesia in 2017.
Prior to academia, Julie practiced law as a qualified solicitor, including spending almost two years with the Registry of the International Criminal Court and three years as a lawyer with the Australian Government Solicitor.