Researching the Researchers: Studying Human Rights Violations

Recent studies suggest that conducting research on subjects that involve extensive human rights violations leads to research-related stress (RRS).  Whether a researcher is interviewing survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, collecting data from genocidaires, or coding data on incidents of torture, exposure to RRS may lead to several effects. Beyond emotional consequences, RRS may also determine the willingness to study particular topics, and the choices of methods utilized. This panel thus seeks to understand the overall implications of studying political violence, mass killings, sexual violence, and other forms of grave human rights violations which take place during conflicts. We seek to research the researcher, and how their important work also affects the self. 

Facilitated by: Prerna Barua, PhD Student, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Speakers: 

• Dr Leslie Dwyer, Associate Professor, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
• Dr Jessica Smith, Director of Research, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security
• Dr Philip Schulz, Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Bremen (Author of Male Survivors of Wartime Sexual Violence: Perspectives from Northern Uganda)
• Isabel Guimarães, Geopolitical Risk and Security, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies