Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

From ‘Prisoners Of Conscience’ To ‘Prisoners Of Poverty:’ Naming And Shaming Economic And Social Rights, Beenish Riaz

Political Science Honors Projects

In this paper, I examine the effectiveness of ‘naming and shaming’ by human rights organizations (HROs) on the enforcement of economic and social rights. I ask whether this method, initially developed to address civil and political rights, contributes to the realization of economic and social rights and to the reduction of economic and social inequities. To answer my research question, I focus on the right to housing in the case of Kenya. I do a qualitative analysis of naming and shaming efforts by HROs and the varied responses of the state to these efforts. In this case, I find that …