# Kathryn Sikkink ![Headshot of Kathryn Sikkink](/sites/g/files/omnuum4431/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-01/Screenshot%20rounded_0.png?itok=1eMlM3gP) **Kathryn Sikkink** is the Ryan Family Professor of Human Rights Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and an affiliated faculty member at the Harvard Government Department and the Harvard Law School. She is an International Relations scholar best known for her work on human rights, international norms and law, transnational advocacy networks, and transitional justice. Her books include: *The Hidden Face of Rights: Toward a Politics of Responsibilities; Evidence for Hope:* *Making Human Rights Work in the 21st Century; The Justice Cascade: How Human Rights Prosecutions are Changing World Politics* (awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Center Book Award); *Mixed Signals: U.S. Human Rights Policy and Latin America; Activists Beyond Borders: Advocacy Networks in International Politics* (co-authored with Margaret Keck and awarded the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas for Improving World Order); *The Persistent Power of Human Rights: From Commitment to Compliance*, (co-edited with Thomas Risse and Stephen Ropp), and (with Richard Price) *International Norms, Moral Psychology and Neuroscience.* Sikkink received her Ph.D. from Columbia University and has been a Fulbright Scholar in Argentina and a Guggenheim fellow. She is a member of the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Council on Foreign Relations. ## Transitional Justice Evaluation Tools (TJET) ![Transitional Justice Evaluation Tools website announcement with picture of world map.](/sites/g/files/omnuum4431/files/ksikkink/files/tjet_website_announcement_graphic.png) The [Transitional Justice Evaluation Tools (TJET)](https://transitionaljusticedata.org/en/) compiles data on human rights prosecutions, amnesties, truth commissions, reparations policies, and vetting policies around the world. The website, launched in April 2024, makes available these data and provides analyses. TJET is going to publish a human rights accountability index currently in development, which will assess every country over time on its accountability efforts for past human rights violations. The TJET Reference Library provides references for almost 10,000 published sources on transitional justice around the world. ## Recent Publications Download 3 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=730061&content_filter%5B1%5D=730041&content_filter%5B2%5D=735701&&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=730061&content_filter%5B1%5D=730041&content_filter%5B2%5D=735701&&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=730061&content_filter%5B1%5D=730041&content_filter%5B2%5D=735701&&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=730061&content_filter%5B1%5D=730041&content_filter%5B2%5D=735701&&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=730061&content_filter%5B1%5D=730041&content_filter%5B2%5D=735701&&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=730061&content_filter%5B1%5D=730041&content_filter%5B2%5D=735701&&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=730061&content_filter%5B1%5D=730041&content_filter%5B2%5D=735701&&format=ris) ### 2024 Sikkink, Kathryn, and Helen Clapp. 2024. “[How Feminist Foreign Policies Work to Enhance Gender Justice](/publications/how-feminist-foreign-policies-work-enhance-gender-justice)”. *Georgetown Journal of International Affairs*. Sikkink, Kathryn, and Helen Clapp. 2024. “[How Feminist Foreign Policies Work to Enhance Gender Justice](/publications/how-feminist-foreign-policies-work-enhance-gender-justice)”. *Georgetown Journal of International Affairs*. - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2024/02/18/how-feminist-foreign-policies-work-to-enhance-gender-justice/) - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2024/02/18/how-feminist-foreign-policies-work-to-enhance-gender-justice/) Sikkink, Kathryn, Helen Clapp, Daniel Marin-Lopez, and Averell Schmidt. 2024. “[Gender and Transitional Justice: Explaining Global Trends](/publications/gender-and-transitional-justice-explaining-global-trends)”. *International Journal of Transitional Justice*. Sikkink, Kathryn, Helen Clapp, Daniel Marin-Lopez, and Averell Schmidt. 2024. “[Gender and Transitional Justice: Explaining Global Trends](/publications/gender-and-transitional-justice-explaining-global-trends)”. *International Journal of Transitional Justice*. - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://academic.oup.com/ijtj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ijtj/ijae022/7708570) - [ picture\_as\_pdffinal\_gender\_and\_tj\_artic...](/sites/g/files/omnuum4431/files/ksikkink/files/final_gender_and_tj_article_for_ijtj_penultimate.pdf) In this article, we explore historical trends in gender-attentive transitional justice policies using a new global dataset of truth commissions, prosecutions and reparations policies. We find that gender was largely absent from these policies from 1970... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://academic.oup.com/ijtj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ijtj/ijae022/7708570) - [ picture\_as\_pdffinal\_gender\_and\_tj\_artic...](/sites/g/files/omnuum4431/files/ksikkink/files/final_gender_and_tj_article_for_ijtj_penultimate.pdf) ### 2023 Dancy, Geoff, and Kathryn Sikkink. 2023. “[The Data of Transitional Justice](/publications/data-transitional-justice)”. In *The Oxford Handbook of Transitional Justice*, edited by Jens Meierhenich, Alexander Laban Hinton, and Lawrence Douglas. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Dancy, Geoff, and Kathryn Sikkink. 2023. “[The Data of Transitional Justice](/publications/data-transitional-justice)”. In *The Oxford Handbook of Transitional Justice*, edited by Jens Meierhenich, Alexander Laban Hinton, and Lawrence Douglas. Oxford: Oxford University Press. - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/51233/chapter-abstract/426516994?redirectedFrom=fulltext) - [ picture\_as\_pdfthe\_data\_of\_transitional\_...](/sites/g/files/omnuum4431/files/the_data_of_transitional_justice_penultimate.pdf) Transitional justice database projects continue to multiply, even amid mounting suspicion that systematic comparative analysis has little to offer the field. In an effort to confront these suspicions, this chapter offers a brief history of the... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/51233/chapter-abstract/426516994?redirectedFrom=fulltext) - [ picture\_as\_pdfthe\_data\_of\_transitional\_...](/sites/g/files/omnuum4431/files/the_data_of_transitional_justice_penultimate.pdf) [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/publications) ## Human Rights & Transitional Justice Articles Download 3 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=632797&content_filter%5B1%5D=632796&content_filter%5B2%5D=626822&&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=632797&content_filter%5B1%5D=632796&content_filter%5B2%5D=626822&&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=632797&content_filter%5B1%5D=632796&content_filter%5B2%5D=626822&&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=632797&content_filter%5B1%5D=632796&content_filter%5B2%5D=626822&&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=632797&content_filter%5B1%5D=632796&content_filter%5B2%5D=626822&&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=632797&content_filter%5B1%5D=632796&content_filter%5B2%5D=626822&&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&&content_filter%5B0%5D=632797&content_filter%5B1%5D=632796&content_filter%5B2%5D=626822&&format=ris) ### 2019 Sikkink, Kathryn, Geoff Dancy, Bridget Marchesi, Tricia Olsen, Leigh Payne, and Andrew Reiter. 2019. “[Behind Bars and Bargains: New Findings on Transitional Justice in Emerging Democracies: Research Note](/publications/behind-bars-and-bargains-new-findings-transitional-justice-emerging)”. *International Studies Quarterly*. Sikkink, Kathryn, Geoff Dancy, Bridget Marchesi, Tricia Olsen, Leigh Payne, and Andrew Reiter. 2019. “[Behind Bars and Bargains: New Findings on Transitional Justice in Emerging Democracies: Research Note](/publications/behind-bars-and-bargains-new-findings-transitional-justice-emerging)”. *International Studies Quarterly*. - [ picture\_as\_pdfbehind\_bars\_and\_bargains....](/sites/g/files/omnuum4431/files/ksikkink/files/behind_bars_and_bargains.pdf) - [ picture\_as\_pdfbehind\_bars\_and\_bargains....](/sites/g/files/omnuum4431/files/ksikkink/files/behind_bars_and_bargains.pdf) Sikkink, Kathryn, and Averell Schmidt. 2019. “[Breaking the Ban? The Heterogeneous Impact of US Contestation of the Torture Norm ](/publications/breaking-ban-heterogeneous-impact-us-contestation-torture-norm)”. *Journal of Global Security Studies* 4 (1): 105-22. Sikkink, Kathryn, and Averell Schmidt. 2019. “[Breaking the Ban? The Heterogeneous Impact of US Contestation of the Torture Norm ](/publications/breaking-ban-heterogeneous-impact-us-contestation-torture-norm)”. *Journal of Global Security Studies* 4 (1): 105-22. - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://academic-oup-com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/jogss/article/4/1/105/5347914) - [ picture\_as\_pdfogy036.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum4431/files/ksikkink/files/ogy036.pdf) - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://academic-oup-com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/jogss/article/4/1/105/5347914) - [ picture\_as\_pdfogy036.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum4431/files/ksikkink/files/ogy036.pdf) ### 2018 Schmidt, Averell, and Kathryn Sikkink. 2018. “[Partners in Crime: An Empirical Evaluation of the CIA Rendition, Detention, and Interrogation Program](/publications/partners-crime-empirical-evaluation-cia-rendition-detention-and-interrogation-0)”. *Perspectives on Politics* 16 (4): 1014-33. Schmidt, Averell, and Kathryn Sikkink. 2018. “[Partners in Crime: An Empirical Evaluation of the CIA Rendition, Detention, and Interrogation Program](/publications/partners-crime-empirical-evaluation-cia-rendition-detention-and-interrogation-0)”. *Perspectives on Politics* 16 (4): 1014-33. - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://www-cambridge-org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/040CA83C6EAEEF856CC0B90BF6606096/S1537592717004224a.pdf/partners_in_crime_an_empirical_evaluation_of_the_cia_rendition_detention_and_interrogation_program.pd) - [ picture\_as\_pdfpartnersincrime.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum4431/files/schmidtandsikkinkpartnersincrime.pdf) In the years following the attacks of 9/11, the CIA adopted a program involving the capture, extraordinary rendition, secret detention, and harsh interrogation of suspected terrorists in the war on terror. As the details of this program have become public... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://www-cambridge-org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/040CA83C6EAEEF856CC0B90BF6606096/S1537592717004224a.pdf/partners_in_crime_an_empirical_evaluation_of_the_cia_rendition_detention_and_interrogation_program.pd) - [ picture\_as\_pdfpartnersincrime.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum4431/files/schmidtandsikkinkpartnersincrime.pdf) [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/publications) ## Books [### International Norms, Moral Psychology, and Neuroscience ](/publications/international-norms-moral-psychology-and-neuroscience)[Buy Now](https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/international-norms-moral-psychology-and-neuroscience/7B5A926A9AA912D64C097FA3FB010E17) [Find at 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