News & Events

New report calls for ICE to end solitary confinement

February 7, 2024

Hands grip the bars of a prison cell

According to a new report issued by Physicians for Human Rights, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Medical School, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employed solitary confinement over 14,000 times from 2018 to 2023 with an average isolation time of 27 days. This far exceeds the 15-day guideline that the United Nations considers to be torture.

Rita Kirk Selected to Represent the National Science Foundation project on Trust

January 25, 2024

Visiting Fellow Rita Kirk has been selected as an evaluator to represent the National Science Foundation project on trust. The project being reviewed is the "Democracy, Governance, and Trust... Read more about Rita Kirk Selected to Represent the National Science Foundation project on Trust

Remembering Charles Fried

January 24, 2024

It is with sorrow that we note the January 23, 2024 passing of our long-time colleague Charles Fried. Professor Fried, the Beneficial Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, had been a dedicated Faculty Associate of the Center since 1990. His profound influence extended...

New article by Katherine Peeler

January 16, 2024

Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics Initiative Fellow, Katherine Peeler, recently contributed a new report released by the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights in conjunction with the RAICES, the Massachusetts General Center for Global Health and the Harvard Global Health Institute detailing the provision of pediatric medical care in an immigration detention facility.

This study, analyzing 165 medical records of detained immigrant children, found inadequate access to health care and inappropriate management of acute medical and mental health care.

New Article by Chad Lee-Stronach

January 3, 2024

Chad Lee-Stronach, Fellow in Residence, recently published an article titled "Just Probabilities" in the philosophy journal Noûs. In the piece, Lee-Stronach argues for the notion that legal standards of proof can be effectively represented as probabilities, challenging apprehensions that this method overly depends on statistical evidence. If you're interested, you can access the article here. Read more about New Article by Chad Lee-Stronach

Nien-hê Hsieh on The Parlor Room Podcast

December 18, 2023

Harvard Business School Professor Nien-hê Hsieh joins host Chris Linnane in The Parlor Room Podcast to discuss the proliferation of AI in the workplace and how Theranos' story imparts vital ethical lessons. Listen to the podcast here.

Three Center Affiliates Named Schwarzman Scholars

December 11, 2023

Three Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics undergraduate affiliates were named Schwarzman Scholars. Congradulations to Lawrence Jia, Andy Wang, and Woojin Lim! They will pursue fully-funded master's degrees at Tsinghua University in Beijing over the next two years. The program, founded in 2015 aims to strengthen global ties...

New Publication by Carr Center featuring Center affiliates

December 11, 2023

In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) anniversary, the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy has published Making a Movement: The History and Future of Human Rights. This publication delves into the past, present, and future of the human rights movement, evaluating its successes and failures, and presenting potential areas of progress. It contains essays from 90 Harvard faculty and affiliates. Notably,...

Eric Beerbohm named senior adviser for civil discourse

December 8, 2023

Director of ELSCE Eric Beerbohm has been named senior adviser for civil discourse. In the new role, Director Beerbohm will launch a series of initiatives designed to advance constructive dialogue in classrooms and seminar halls across the FAS.

The goal is to create environments where students can engage in civil disagreement and debate, fostering critical thinking, empathy, and understanding. Beerbohm plans to draw upon the Center's work on civil discourse and utilize tools such as the Design Studio for Ethics and Civic Pedagogy to support civility in academic spaces....

New article by Katherine Peeler

December 1, 2023

Fellow-in-Residence Katherine Peeler recently contributed a new article to JAMA Network Open, titled "Research in US Immigration Detention—Transparency Through Policy." The article addresses the lack of transparency in data regarding the health of individuals detained in US immigration facilities, emphasizing the limited accessibility to comprehensive information. Read Peeler's article here now!