Dates:
May 14, 2025, 9:00am-4:30pm
May 15, 2025, 9:30am-5:00pm
May 16, 2025, 9:30am-5:00pm
Location: University of Rhode Island Bay Campus – 215 South Ferry Rd, Narragansett, RI, USA
On behalf of the Consortium for Rights Analysis and Measurement (CRAM) steering committee, it is our pleasure to invite you to the Spring 2025 CRAM Workshop at the University of Rhode Island, USA.
Founded in 2023 by members of the largest academic human rights data and measurement projects, CRAM is an informal network of scholars and practitioners who collaborate to advance the field of human rights (broadly defined), through academic and non-academic research and teaching. We are an organization run by junior scholars, and we rely on the partnership of senior scholars, industry partners, and practitioners. As such, CRAM is designed to provide a uniquely inclusive and welcoming space for engagement and collaboration.
This semi-annual three-day gathering will comprise research presentations, breakout sessions, and group events focused on fostering engagement and collaboration on the measurement and analysis of human rights.
Activities will include:
- Mini workshops on topics of theoretical and methodological interest in human rights research;
- Workshop 1 – Better Theory for Better Measurement – Best Practices in Research Design (Wednesday morning)
- Workshop 2: Data Practices: How to Preserve and Secure Our (Messy) Data and Ourselves (Wednesday morning)
- Workshop 3: Experimental and Expert Survey Instruments (Wednesday afternoon)
- Workshop 4: Navigating Researcher Trauma in Conflict-Affected Areas (Wednesday afternoon)
- Presentations of submissions for our two (academic journal) special issues (submissions closed – thank you for your interest!);
- Repertoires of Repression: The first special issue explores broader themes of what actors repress what types of groups and activities, with an international focus. We examine different perpetrators, targets, tactics, and contexts in which repression occurs globally.
- Human Rights in the US: The second special issue focuses on themes related to human rights in the United States while navigating a second Trump presidency. Built to bridge the disconnect between US public opinion and human rights concerns, this special issue examines US-American issues through the lens of human rights frameworks common to international and comparative politics research, discussing how to shift public attitudes towards viewing salient issues as human rights issues.
- Independent presentations on work in progress (outside the purview of the special issues);
- The second set of research presentations will feature scholars presenting work on human rights analysis and measurement.
- Networking sessions and breakout discussions to encourage collaboration on human rights research, in the areas of academic/non-academic research and teaching.
CRAM relies on a terrific group of scholars from several universities for the design and functioning of this exciting new consortium, and in designing the meeting program.
Preliminary Event Agenda
(We will finalize the program in mid-April.)
Wednesday, May 14th – Analysis and Measurement Mini Workshops
8:00 – 9:00 Registration and Breakfast
9:00 – 12:00 Morning Workshops
- Better Theory for Better Measurement – Best Practices in Research Design
- Data Practices: How to Preserve and Secure Our (Messy) Data and Ourselves
*Workshops will be running concurrently.
12:00 – 1:30 Lunch
1:30 – 4:30 Afternoon Workshops
- Experimental and Expert Survey Instruments
- Navigating Researcher Trauma in Conflict-Affected Areas
4:30 – 5:30 Career ‘Cohort’ Meet and Greet
Thursday, May 15th – Preparing Special Issues: Author Presentations
8:30 – 9:30 Registration and Breakfast
9:30 – 11:30 Morning Presentations
- Repertoires of Repression – Toolkits and Non-State Actors
- Human Rights in the US – Structural White Supremacy, Resistance, and Human Rights
*Panels will be running concurrently
11:30 – 12:30 Lunch
12:30 – 2:30 Afternoon Presentations
- Repertoires of Repression – Systems and Structures of Oppression
- US Human Rights – Perceptions and Reality of Human Rights Performance
3:00 – 5:00 Breakout Groups on Ongoing Projects, Future Initiatives
5:00 – 7:00 Steering Committee Meeting
Friday, May 16th – Independent Panels and Group Discussions
8:30 – 9:30 Registration and Breakfast
9:30 – 11:30 Independent Panel 1: Modern Measurement and Human Rights
11:30 – 12:30 Lunch
12:30 – 2:30 Independent Panel 2: Institutions, Trust, and Domestic Human Rights Policy
3:00 – 5:00 Group Discussion – Researching Human Rights in an Age of Democratic Erosion
5:00 – 7:00 Dinner and Send-Off
CRAM Spring 2025 Program Committee:
Meg Frost, University of Rhode Island
Roya Izadi, University of Rhode Island
Skip Mark, University of Rhode Island
Matt Rains, Whitworth University
DeAnne Roark, Cornell University
With questions or concerns, kindly do not hesitate to contact our Graduate Assistant at the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, Tiffany Morel.
Contact Information:
tmorel@uri.edu