About CREHR

CREHR is an interdisciplinary initiative driven by a unique psychosocial orientation to human rights principles and practice

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Welcome to CREHR, the Centre for Researching and Embedding Human Rights.

CREHR is an interdisciplinary initiative driven by a unique psychosocial orientation to human rights principles and practice.

At the heart of CREHR’s mission is to engage psychosocially with theorisations and practices aimed at achieving Acknowledgement, Reparation, and Peace, when human rights are suppressed or violated.

We are interested in human rights not only as a legal framework, but as an underlying set of values and interventions that demand an interdisciplinary, multi-faceted approach to research, policy and practice.

The Centre brings together scholars, policy makers and practitioners united by a shared commitment to human rights, to forward the exercise and enjoyment of human rights through:

  • Research. Through interdisciplinary research, publications and collaborative research projects we aim to foster and embed the development, respect and implementation of human rights principles in everyday life and practices.
  • Networking. The Centre is a home for critical dialogue, knowledge exchange and public events.
  • Impact. To contribute to the protection and implementation of human rights principles through teaching and training programmes with practical, clinical and policy impact beyond the academy.

CREHR is a member of the Human Rights Researchers Network https://hrc.sas.ac.uk/networks/human-rights-researchers-network

In Memory of Stan Cohen

The creation of CREHR has been deeply influenced by the work of the late Stanley Cohen, professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics, in particular on emotional management and denial in Human Rights.

The Centre aims to take forward his groundbreaking work by developing a psychosocial framework for Acknowledgement and Reparation following human rights violations.

Truth was considered an absolute, unrenounceable value for many reasons.

To provide for measures of reparation and prevention, it must be clearly known what should be repaired and prevented. Further, society cannot simply blockout a chapter of its history; it cannot deny the facts of its past, however differently these may be interpreted. Inevitably, the void would be filled with lies or with conflicting, confusing versions of the past. 

A nation’s unity depends on a shared identity, which in turn depends largely on a shared memory. The truth also brings a measure of healthy social catharsis and helps to prevent the past from reoccurring

Jose’ Zalaquett, The Mathew O.Tobriner Memorial lecture

© 2024 Centre for Researching and Embedding Human Rights. All Rights Reserved.

Birkbeck, University of London, Torrington Square, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7JL

Email: crehr@bbk.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 7631 6000