Prof. Meili Presents Research on Constitutionalization of Human Rights at Two Conferences

Professor Stephen Meili recently presented his research on the constitutionalization of human rights in Ecuador to the annual conferences of the Law and Society Association in New Orleans and the Latin American Studies Association in New York. Meili's research is based on the results of a recent Constitutional Court lawsuit challenging a Presidential decree limiting the rights of asylum seekers in Ecuador, most of whom have escaped the decades-long armed conflict in neighboring Colombia. Through qualitative research and field work in Ecuador, Meili has identified several factors under which constitutionalized human rights law may lead to improved rights outcomes for non-citizens. These factors include the country's reputation for respecting the rights of non-citizens and the degree to which the constitutional challenge threatens key state actors. He intends to apply these factors in his research of other areas of the world currently experiencing refugee crises, most notably Europe.