Submissions for our journal are currently closed
The Journal is not currently accepting submissions for our Print volume. We expect to open submissions for Volume 40 (to be published in the Spring of 2027) in the Summer of 2026.
Our Online Journal accepts submissions on a rolling basis. Please visit our website for submission instructions.
Please submit any inquiries to submissions.hhrj@mail.law.harvard.edu.
For Authors
Article submissions for Volume 39 are now open.
Guidelines for Article submissions and student submissions to the Print Journal are described separately below. Guidelines for submitting to the Online Journal are located here. Please email Submissions.HHRJ@mail.law.harvard.edu with any concerns.
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS:
The Harvard Human Rights Journal publishes an annual print issue containing original scholarly works analyzing contemporary international or domestic human rights issues through the lens of international human rights law.
Submission Guidelines
- Subject Matter: Articles should address contemporary human rights issues using international human rights law.
- Eligibility: Authors should be scholars or legal practitioners. Law students are not eligible until immediately after graduation (incl. LLMs), though lawyers pursuing advanced credentials are (i.e., SJDs).
- Length Limitations: We strongly prefer Article submissions that are between 15,000 and 25,000 words in total length, including text, footnotes, and appendices.
- Language: Although we recognize that human rights is an international field, we only publish pieces in English.
- Citation Format: All assertions should be cited. We strongly prefer submissions that use footnotes rather than endnotes and that comply with The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (21st ed. 2020).
Instructions:
We ask for all Articles to be submitted in Microsoft Word format through Scholastica, along with a CV or resume. Authors interested in a fee waiver should reach out to support@scholasticahq.com.
Review Process:
Submissions are reviewed and accepted year-round on a rolling basis. Due to the volume of submissions we receive, we are unable to accommodate requests to confirm receipt or respond to inquiries about the status of a submission. We kindly ask that authors not send emails inquiring into the status of their submissions. If a submission is selected for publication, we will contact the author directly.
STUDENT SUBMISSIONS:
The Harvard Human Rights Journal publishes three types of student writing in the annual print issue: Notes, Comments, and Book Reviews.
Submission Guidelines
- Subject Matter: All submissions should address contemporary human rights issues using international human rights law.
- Notes should be similar to Articles in content and style.
- Comments should give commentary on recent court cases or legislative developments.
- Book Reviews should discuss a recently released book.
- Eligibility: Current law students (e.g., JDs, LLMs, SJDs) and recent graduates (must have graduated within the past two years as of the submission date) are eligible.
- Length Limitations: We strongly prefer submissions within the following length limitations, including text, footnotes, and appendices.
- Notes: 10,000–15,000 words.
- Comments: 2,500–5,000 words.
- Book Reviews: 1,000–2,500 words.
- Language: Although we recognize that human rights is an international field, we only publish pieces in English.
- Citation Format: All assertions should be cited. We strongly prefer submissions that use footnotes rather than endnotes and that comply with The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (21st ed. 2020).
Instructions:
We ask that all student submissions be submitted via email and in Microsoft Word format. Student submissions should be emailed as attachments to Submissions.HHRJ@mail.law.harvard.edu, with “Student Submission – (Law School Name) – (Last Name)” in the subject line, along with a CV or resume.
Review Process:
Submissions are reviewed and accepted year-round on a rolling basis. Due to the volume of submissions we receive, we are unable to accommodate requests to confirm receipt or respond to inquiries about the status of a submission. We kindly ask that authors not send emails inquiring into the status of their submissions. If a submission is selected for publication, we will contact the author directly.