Faculty, Board

George Ulrich PhD

Visiting Professor. Board Member
International Human Rights Law. Human Rights and Business

PhD,  Philosophy (University of Toronto, Canada 2001)
Cand.mag, Social Anthropology & History of Ideas (Aarhus University, Denmark 1993)
M.A, Philosophy (University of Toronto, Canada 1988)

Significant Professional Experience

  • Professor, Riga Graduate School of Law, 2009-
  • Rector of Riga Graduate School of Law, 2009-2016
  • Latvian Science Council member, 2011-
  • Secretary General, European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC), from December 2003 to January 2009
  • Academic Coordinator / Programme Director, European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation, from September 2001 to September 2004
  • Senior Researcher, Danish Institute for Human Rights, from March 1999 to September 2001
  • Research Fellow, University of Copenhagen / Danida, from January 1996 to December 1998
  • Visiting Researcher, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, from August 1996 to July 1997

Current research interests

  • Philosophy of human rights; health and human rights; medical ethics; professional ethics; human rights field work; human rights education; EU human rights policy and practice.

Publications

  • Ulrich, G. “Research Ethics for Human Rights Researchers” in Bård A. Andreassen, Hans-Otto Sano, and Siobhán McInerney-Lankford (eds), Human Rights Research Methods: Key Issues and Approaches, 2nd edition, Edward Elgar Publishers (forthcoming)
  • Ulrich, G. ‘Adorno Revisited: Aesthetic Theory, Politics, and Human Rights’ in J. Fifer, A. Impey, P. Kirchschlaeger, M. Nowak and G. Ulrich (eds.), The Routledge Companion to Music and Human Rights, Routledge (2022)
  • Fifer J. Impey A., Kirchschlaeger P., Nowak M. and Ulrich G. (eds.), The Routledge Companion to Music and Human Rights, Routledge (2022)
  • Ulrich, G., ‘Human Rights Scepticism’, in Chr. Binder, M. Nowak, J.A. Hofbauer and Ph.Janig Elgar Encyclopedia of Human Rights, Edward Elgar Publishing 2022
  • O’Flaherty, M.; Ulrich, G.; Müller, A.; Kedzia, Z. (eds) (2011), Human Rights Diplomacy – Contemporary Perspectives, Martinus Nijhof Publishers / Brill
  • De Feyter, K.; Parmentier, S.; Timmerman, Chr.; Ulrich, G. (eds.) (2011). The Local Relevance of Human Rights. Cambridge University Press.
  • Ulrich, G. (2011). “Elucidating ethics in practice – focus on accountability”, in P. W. Geissler and S. Molyneux (eds.), Evidence, Ethos and Experiment: the anthropology and history of medical research in Africa. Berghahn Books
  • O’Flaherty, M.; Ulrich, G. (eds.) (2010). The Professional Identity of the Human Rights Field Officer. Ashgate Publishing Ltd
  • The Professional Identity of the Human Rights Field Officer, M. O’Flaherty and G. Ulrich (eds.), Ashgate 2010
  • “The Professionalisation of Human Rights Field Work”, co-authored with M. O’Flaherty, Journal of Human Rights Practice, Oxford UP 2010
  • “Elucidating ethics in practice – focus on accountability”, in P. W. Geissler and S. Molyneux (eds.), Evidence, Ethos and Experiment: the anthropology and history of medical research in Africa, Berghahn 2010 (forthcoming)
  • Human Rights Mainstreaming in EU’s External Relations, (G. Ulrich, ed.) EIUC study prepared on behalf of the European Parliament with contributions from several EIUC associated experts and professors, 2009 (so far unpublished)
  • Beyond Activism: The impact of the resolutions and other activities of the European Parliament in the field of human rights outside the European Union, co-authored with Horst Fischer and Sébastien Lorion, Marsilio Editori 2007
  • “Towards a Theory of Global Ethics in Support of Human Rights” in W. Benedek, K de Feyter and F. Marrella (eds.), Economic Globalisation and Human Rights, Cambridge University Press 2007
  • “Towards an Ethical Base for the Work of Human Rights Field Operations” in M. O’Flaherty (ed.), The Human Rights Field Operation: Law, Theory and Practice, Ashgate 2007
  • “Setting an agenda for strengthening ethical awareness and accountability in donor-sponsored research” in Ethics and Health Research in Low Income Societies – Ethical Capacity Building: Obstacles and Challenges, Danida, Copenhagen 2004
  • Reparations – Redressing Past Wrongs, Yearbook Human Rights in Development, co-edited with Louise Krabbe Boserup, Kluwer 2003
  • “Charges and Counter-Charges of Ethical Imperialism: Towards a Situated Approach to Development Ethics” in Ph. Q. van Ufford and A. K. Giri (eds.),  A Moral Critique of Development: In Search of Global Responsibilities, EIDOS, Routledge 2003
  • Discrimination and Toleration: New Perspectives, co-edited with Kirsten Hastrup, Kluwer 2002
  • “Om forholdet imellem menneskerettigheder og etik: tre logiske relationer” in K. Hastrup (ed.), Menneskerettens Udfordring – ideologi eller videnskab?, Akademisk Forlag, København 2002
  • “Abolition of the Death Penalty and the Fight against Torture: How can the European Union Act?” report from Paris EU Human Rights Forum, Dec. 13, 2000, Paris 2001
  • “Optimum Ethical Standards,” in “Proceedings Seminar on Health Research Ethics in Africa,” Acta Tropica, Vol. 78 Supplement 1, January 2001, Elsevir 2001
  • “Universal Human Rights: An Unfinished Project” in K. Hastrup (ed.), Human Rights on Common Grounds? The Quest for Universality; Kluwer 2001
  • “Human Rights Dimensions in Practice” in Report on EU Human Rights Conference: The European Union and the Central Role of Human Rights and Democratic Principles in the Relations with Third Countries, Venice 2000
  • “Omsorg og Anerkendelse: et etisk perspektiv på problemer vedrørende behandlingen af gamle demente i hjemmet og i den offentlige plejesektor” in: E. Ersbøl (ed.), Gamle Dementes Menneskerettigheder, DCMR, København 2000
  • “AIDS in the Perspective of Human Rights,” Danida / The ENRECA Health Network, Copenhagen 1999
  • Globally Speaking: report on the ethics of research in developing countries; report prepared for Danida as conclusion of two-year research project, Copenhagen 1998