James Harrison (author and politician)
Encyclopedia
James Harrison is a British
academic. He is currently employed as Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Centre for Human Rights in Practice, School of Law, University of Warwick
. His research focuses upon analysing the human rights and environmental impacts of economic laws and regulations.
James is known for writing on human rights
, the environment
and trade justice
. He has worked with numerous NGOs, United Nations agencies and international organisations, including the Council of Europe
, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
and Amnesty International
. He is married with two children.
in Literae Humaniores from the University of Oxford
, which he completed in 1996. He qualified as a solicitor in 2001. He earned his PhD
in human rights and trade law from the European University Institute
in 2005.
(2005–06) developing their policies on the human rights impact of international trade agreements; Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
(2003–2005) with regards to reform of the UN Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Body System and international trade policy;Council of Europe
(2003–2004) as a legal expert on projects to promote fair trade, ethical finance and responsible consumerism initiatives; Article 19 (2003) on transparency guidelines for multinational companies. Prior to qualifying as a solicitor, James also worked as a researcher for the National Council for Civil Liberties.
, globalisation and human rights
. His most notable work is a book entitled The Human Rights Impact of the World Trade Organisation. The Law and Politics Book Review referred to it as "excellent in merging complex theoretical issues". In The Modern Law Review, Andrew Lang stated that "the (quasi) draft Declaration on trade and human rights which Harrison offers in the concluding pages of Chapter 12 is admirably ambitious and could serve as a useful point of departure for future political activity". In Global Law Books, Anna Pitaraki wrote that "Harrison delivers a thorough discussion of an undeniable truth: trade policies and human rights are co-centric circles and therefore should no longer be reviewed in isolation from one another". The New Zealand Law Review commented that “Harrison not only provides a balanced and thoughtful analysis of the issues at the intersection of the international trade and human rights regimes, but he also provides pragmatic suggestions that can and should be built upon by both international institutions, national governments, and NGOs alike”.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
academic. He is currently employed as Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Centre for Human Rights in Practice, School of Law, University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
. His research focuses upon analysing the human rights and environmental impacts of economic laws and regulations.
James is known for writing on human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, the environment
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
and trade justice
Trade justice
Trade justice is a campaign by non-governmental organisations lobbying for changes to the rules and practices of world trade so that poor people and the environment benefit...
. He has worked with numerous NGOs, United Nations agencies and international organisations, including the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is a United Nations agency that works to promote and protect the human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948...
and Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
. He is married with two children.
Education
James holds a BA (Hons)Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Literae Humaniores from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, which he completed in 1996. He qualified as a solicitor in 2001. He earned his PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in human rights and trade law from the European University Institute
European University Institute
The European University Institute ' in Florence is an international postgraduate and post-doctoral teaching and research institute established by European Union member states to contribute to cultural and scientific development in the social sciences, in a European perspective...
in 2005.
Consultancy
James has worked as a consultant for a range of inter-governmental, non-governmental and other organisations. These include the Scottish Human Rights Commission (2010-2011)and the Canadian Coalition on International Co-operation (2008-2010)on methodologies for conducting human rights impact assessments; Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
(2005–06) developing their policies on the human rights impact of international trade agreements; Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is a United Nations agency that works to promote and protect the human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948...
(2003–2005) with regards to reform of the UN Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Body System and international trade policy;Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
(2003–2004) as a legal expert on projects to promote fair trade, ethical finance and responsible consumerism initiatives; Article 19 (2003) on transparency guidelines for multinational companies. Prior to qualifying as a solicitor, James also worked as a researcher for the National Council for Civil Liberties.
Author
James has authored reports, articles and books on the subjects of trade justiceTrade justice
Trade justice is a campaign by non-governmental organisations lobbying for changes to the rules and practices of world trade so that poor people and the environment benefit...
, globalisation and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. His most notable work is a book entitled The Human Rights Impact of the World Trade Organisation. The Law and Politics Book Review referred to it as "excellent in merging complex theoretical issues". In The Modern Law Review, Andrew Lang stated that "the (quasi) draft Declaration on trade and human rights which Harrison offers in the concluding pages of Chapter 12 is admirably ambitious and could serve as a useful point of departure for future political activity". In Global Law Books, Anna Pitaraki wrote that "Harrison delivers a thorough discussion of an undeniable truth: trade policies and human rights are co-centric circles and therefore should no longer be reviewed in isolation from one another". The New Zealand Law Review commented that “Harrison not only provides a balanced and thoughtful analysis of the issues at the intersection of the international trade and human rights regimes, but he also provides pragmatic suggestions that can and should be built upon by both international institutions, national governments, and NGOs alike”.