Renana Keydar PI (LAW), Vera Shikhelman, Tomer Broude, and Jonathan Elkobi
The Discursive Evolution of Human Rights Law:
Insights from 180,000 UN Recommendations using a Density of Discourse Model
Description:
In our research, we explore how human rights (HR) law discourse has evolved over time and in substance. To accomplish this, we utilize an independent database containing 180,000 United Nations (UN) recommendations and introduce a groundbreaking computational method. Through our study, we present the most comprehensive analysis of HR debates to date.
We develop a unique empirical model that measures the topical density of discourse, allowing us to assess the discursive activity of UN HR bodies. Using machine-learning textual analysis of their outputs, we create a dynamic map that reveals evolving trends in human rights. This analysis encompasses both temporal changes (diachronically) and differences across various mechanisms (synchronically) within the UN HR ecosystem.
Drawing upon this extensive dataset and employing sophisticated computational methodologies, we identify which protected groups receive significant attention from different mechanisms and highlight major human rights issues that have experienced notable shifts in focus. Our research uncovers 60 topics, including clusters related to sex/gender, migration, socio-economic issues, civil/political matters, war/terror/military, and minority/ethnicity/race. We observe an overall increase in the density of discourse over time, with diverse trends such as a heightened emphasis on disability and corporate responsibility, a decline in discussions surrounding war and terror, and the preservation of patterns within the sex/gender cluster.
Furthermore, our findings contribute to two pivotal debates in HR law. Firstly, we challenge the perception of HR proliferation by demonstrating that HR discourse has dynamically evolved beyond a mere increase in rights. Secondly, we address a structural critique concerning the division of labor and thematic mandates among different UN HR bodies. Our analysis reveals overlaps in their work and shared interests, shedding light on these crucial issues.
Additionally, our article presents a significant methodological contribution by introducing a novel computational approach for discursive analysis of legal corpora. This approach enables the examination of temporal changes and variations among different agents and institutions. Its applicability extends beyond the specific context of our study and can be utilized in other domains, making it highly generalizable.
Overall, our research provides valuable insights into the evolution of HR law discourse, including key topics, trends, and their implications within the UN HR ecosystem. We contribute methodologically by offering a novel computational approach, and our findings inform major debates in the field of human rights law.
Publications: