Professor Paul Hunt
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Email
phmhunt@essex.ac.uk -
Location
Colchester Campus
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Academic support hours
Monday 13:30 - 15:00
Profile
Biography
Professor Paul Hunt, a New Zealand and British national, practised as a litigation solicitor in London before specialising in international and domestic human rights law. He has lived, and undertaken human rights work, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the South Pacific. In the 1980s, he was Legal Officer and Acting General Secretary of the London-based National Council for Civil Liberties (Liberty). Between 1990-1992, he was Associate Director of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies in Banjul, Gambia. Between 1992-2000, he was Senior Lecturer at Waikato University, New Zealand. In 1998, he was nominated by the Government of New Zealand and elected by the UN to serve as an independent expert on the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1999-2002). Between 2002-2008, he served as the first UN Special Rapporteur on the right to the highest attainable standard of health. In this capacity, he submitted some 30 reports to the UN General Assembly, UN Commission on Human Rights, and UN Human Rights Council. In 2011-2012, Professor Hunt was Senior Human Rights Advisor to Dr. Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director-General, World Health Organisation. Between 2019 and January 2024, Professor Hunt was appointed by New Zealand's Governor-General to serve as Chief Human Rights Commissioner. During his five-year term, Professor Hunt and his Commission colleagues responded to the Christchurch massacres of March 2019, the global pandemic, the occupation of parliamentary grounds which ended in violence, a severe housing crisis, escalating online harm, extreme weather events, the impact of Israel/Gaza on the country's social cohesion, and the ongoing impacts of colonisation on the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa/New Zealand. He has been awarded two Honorary Doctorates (Nordic School of Public Health, 2008, and University of Waikato, 2021) and the Ann Dysart Distinguished Service Award. Professor Hunt has published extensively on human rights, especially economic, social, and cultural rights. phmhunt@essex.ac.uk
Research and professional activities
Research interests
International human rights law
Economic, social and cultural rights
The right to the highest attainable standard of health
Poverty, development and human rights
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Human Rights: Theories and Applications (HU901)
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Human Rights: Global Diversity and Global Challenges (HU930)
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International Human Rights Law: Law and Practice (LW901)
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Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Context (LW930)
Previous supervision
Degree subject: Human Rights and Research Methods
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 27/6/2024
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 21/12/2023
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 4/10/2021
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 8/4/2015
Publications
Journal articles (24)
Rumbold, B., Baker, R., Ferraz, O., Hawkes, S., Krubiner, C., Littlejohns, P., Norheim, OF., Pegram, T., Rid, A., Venkatapuram, S., Voorhoeve, A., Wang, D., Weale, A., Wilson, J., Yamin, AE. and Hunt, PH., (2017). . The Lancet. 390 (10095), 712-714
Hunt, P., (2017). . Human Rights Quarterly. 39 (3), 489-538
Williams, C. and Hunt, P., (2017). . The International Journal of Human Rights. 21 (8), 1114-1143
Hunt, P., (2016). . Health and Human Rights. 18 (2), 109-130
Hunt, PH., (2016). . Human Rights Quarterly. 38 (4), 1138-1143
Bueno De Mesquita, J., Sander, G. and Hunt, P., (2016). . International Human Rights Law Review. 5 (2), 169-193
Hunt, PH., Yamin, AE. and Bustreo, F., (2015). . Health and Human Rights. 17 (2), 1-9
Hunt, PH., (2015). . Health and Human Rights
Bustreo, F. and Hunt, PH., (2013). . Journal of Public Health Policy. 34 (4), 574-579
Lee, J. and Hunt, PH., (2012). . Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics. 40 (2), 220-233
Cottingham, J., Germain, A. and Hunt, PH., (2012). . The Lancet. 380 (9837), 172-180
Hunt, PH. and Lee, J., (2011). . Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. 12 (4), 577-586
Hunt, PH. and Khosla, R., (2010). . PLoS medicine. 7 (9), creators-Hunt=3APaul_H=3A=3A
MacNaughton, G. and Hunt, PH., (2009). . Public Health. 123 (4), 302-305
Hunt, PH., (2009). . Global Health Promotion. 16 (1 Supp), 36-41
Backman, G., Hunt, PH., Khosla, R., Jaramillo-Strouss, C., Fikre, BM., Rumble, C., Pevalin, DJ., P锟絜z, DA., Pineda, MA., Frisancho, A., Tarco, D., Motlagh, M., Farcasanu, D. and Vladescu, C., (2008). . The Lancet. 372 (9655), 2047-2085
Hunt, PH. and Backman, G., (2008). . Health and Human Rights. 10 (1), 81-92
Hunt, PH., (2008). . Journal of Humanitarian Medicine. VIII (4), 46-48
Hunt, PH., (2008). . Journal of law and medicine. 15 (5), 714-24
Hunt, PH. and Khosla, R., (2008). . Sur : International Journal on Human Rights. 5 (8), 98-114
Hunt, PH., (2007). . The Lancet. 370 (9585), 369-371
Hunt, P. and Bueno De Mesquita, J., (2006). . Human Rights Quarterly. 28 (2), 332-356
Hunt, PH., (2006). . Development Outreach
Hunt, PH., (2006). . Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 100 (7), 603-607
Books (4)
Hunt, PHM., (2017). . Centre for Welfare Reform. 978-1-907790-93-5
Hunt, PH. and Gray, T., (2013). . Routledge. 978-0415534581
Hunt, P., Bustreo, F., Gruskin, S., Eide, A., McGoey, L., Rao, S., Songane, F., Tarantola, D., Unnithan, M., Yamin, AE., van Bolhuis, A., Ferguson, L., Halliday, E., Kuruvilla, S., Popay, J. and Sander, G., (2013). . World Health Organization. 9789241505420
Hunt, PH., Bustreo, F., Gruskin, S., Eide, A., McGoey, L., Rao, S., Songane, F., Tarantola, D., Unnithan, M., Yamin, AE., van Bolhuis, A., Ferguson, L., Halliday, E., Kuruvilla, S., Popay, J. and Sander, G., (2013). . World Health Organization. 9789241505420
Book chapters (16)
Williams, C. and Hunt, P., (2018). . In: The Sustainable Development Goals and Human Rights A Critical Early Review. Editors: Winkler, I. and Williams, C., . Routledge. 1138495298. 9781138495296
Hunt, PH., (2017). . In: The United Nations Special Procedures System. Editors: Nolan, A., Freedman, R. and Murphy, T., . Brill. 9789004304697
Hunt, PHM., (2017). Essay Book Review of 'Fulfilling Social and Economic Rights', by Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Terra Lawson-Remer and Susan Randolph, Oxford University Press, 2015.. Oxford Academic. 355- 360
Hunt, P., Backman, G., Bueno De Mesquita, J., Finer, L., Khosla, R., Korljan, D. and Oldring, L., (2015). . In: Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health (6th edition). Editors: Detels, R., Guilford, M., Karim, QA. and Tan, CC., . Oxford University Press. 277- 292. 9780199661756
Hunt, P., Bueno De Mesquita, J., Lee, J-Y. and Way, SA., (2013). . In: Routledge Handbook of International Human Rights Law. Editors: Rodley, N. and Sheeran, S., . Routledge. 545- 562. 9780415620734
MacNaughton, G. and Hunt, PH., (2011). . In: New Directions in Social Impact Assessment: Conceptual and Methodological Advances. Editors: Vanclay, F. and Esteves, AM., . Edward Elgar. 355- 368. 9781849801171
Bueno De Mesquita, J., Hunt, P. and Khosla, R., (2011). . In: Universal Human Rights and Extraterritorial Obligations. Editors: Gibney, M. and Skogly, S., . University of Pennsylvania Press. 104- 129. 9780812242157
De Mesquita, JB., Hunt, P. and Khosla, R., (2011). The human rights responsibility of international assistance and cooperation in health. In: Forgotten Genocides: Oblivion, Denial, and Memory. 104- 129. 9780812243352
(2010). . In: Global Health and Human Rights: Legal and Philosophical Perspectives. Editors: Harrington, J. and Stuttaford, M., . Routledge. 28- 61. 9780415479387
Hunt, PH. and Khosla, R., (2010). . In: The Delivery of Human Rights: Essays in honour of Professor Sir Nigel Rodley. Editors: Gilbert, G., Hampson, FJ. and Sandoval, C., . Routledge. 39- 67. 9780415579926
Hunt, PH. and Khosla, R., (2009). . In: Human Rights and Climate Change. Editors: Humphreys, S., . Cambridge University Press. 238- 256. 9780521762762
Hunt, PH. and Backman, G., (2009). . In: Realizing the Right to Health. Editors: Clapham, A. and Robinson, M., . Ruffer and Rub. 40- 59. 9783907625453
Hunt, P. and Bueno De Mesquita, J., (2009). . In: Partnerships for Women?s Health: Striving for Best Practice within the UN Global Compact. Editors: Timmermann, M. and Kruesmann, M., . United Nations University Press. 9789280811858
Hunt, P., Backman, G., Bueno De Mesquita, J., Finer, L., Khosla, R., Korljan, D. and Oldring, L., (2009). . In: Oxford Textbook of Public Health (5th edition). Editors: Detels, R., Beaglehole, R., Lansang, MA. and Gulliford, M., . Oxford University Press. 9780199218707
Hunt, PH., (2008). . In: Development with a Body: Sexuality, Human Rights and Development. Editors: Cornwall, A., Corr锟絘, S. and Jolly, S., . Zed Books. xi- xiv. 9781842778906
Hunt, PH. and MacNaughton, G., (2007). . In: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Action. Editors: Baderin, M. and McCorquodale, R., . Oxford University Press. 303- 330. 9780199217908
Conferences (1)
Hunt, PH., (2014).
Reports and Papers (16)
Hunt, PH., Sander, G., Hathi, S., Meguid, T. and Were, M., (2014).
Hunt, PH., Sander, G., Barroso, C. and Ferrier, K., (2014).
Hunt, PH., Sander, G., Hathi, S., Meguid, T., Were, M., Barroso, C. and Ferrier, K., (2014).
Hunt, P. and Bueno De Mesquita, J., (2009).
Hunt, PH. and Khosla, R., (2009).
Potts, H. and Hunt, PH., (2008).
Hunt, PH., (2008).
Hunt, PH. and Backman, G., (2008).
Hunt, PH. and Khosla, R., (2008).
Potts, H. and Hunt, PH., (2008).
Hunt, PH., (2008).
Hunt, P., Steward, R., Bueno De Mesquita, J. and Oldring, L., (2007).
Hunt, PH. and van Es, A., (2007).
Hunt, P. and Bueno De Mesquita, J., (2007).
Hunt, P. and Bueno De Mesquita, J., (2007).
Hunt, PH. and MacNaughton, G., (2006).
Other (34)
Hunt, PH.,
Hunt, PH., (2015).,Universal Rights Group
Hunt, PH., (2015).,Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Hunt, PH., (2012).,Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Hunt, PH., (2010).,Human Rights Centre
Hunt, PH., (2008).
Hunt, PH., (2008).,Human Rights Centre
Hunt, PH., (2008).
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Grants and funding
2018
Enhancing the mental health and human rights engagement and research capacity of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dr Dainius Puras
Open Society Foundation
Report on the Criminalization of Impartial Health Care
Swiss Foreign Affairs Department
2017
Enhancing civil society engagement and the research capacity of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dr Dainius Puras
Open Society Foundation
2015
Enhancing civil society engagement and the research capacity of an UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health
Foundation to Promote Open Society
2012
Population Dynamics, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
GIZ (GmbH)
2011
Sector Project: Population Dynamics, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
GIZ (GmbH)
