We pursue justice through science, technology, and law.
We research and investigate war crimes and human rights violations.
We develop standards for policymakers and practitioners.
We train investigators, students, and advocates.
Who We Are
Using evidence-based methods and multidisciplinary frameworks, we collaborate with impacted communities, build blueprintable solutions to address some of the most significant human rights challenges of our time, and support efforts to hold perpetrators accountable. In doing so, we catalyze our work into effective action to further justice and accountability efforts.
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Explore our Projects
For thirty years, the Human Rights Center has spearheaded and contributed to complex projects that span the fields of international justice, public health, investigative journalism, and much more.
Working With Partners Across Disciplines
The Human Rights Center works across domains and disciplines to address the most pressing global challenges of our time. We work closely with top human rights organizations, legal institutions, universities, media platforms, tech companies, and beyond to unearth the truth and seek justice and accountability.
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Journalists are encouraged reach out to connect with our expert sources, explore potential collaboration through our Investigations program and Lab, access professional reports and publications, and more.
What’s Happening
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December 23, 2025
Human Rights Center response to pull of 60 Minutes segment “INSIDE CECOT”
We were shocked to learn Sunday that CBS Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss pulled a segment “Inside CECOT” from the roster of 60 Minutes that featured our Investigations Lab students and staff. The segment, hosted by correspondent Sharyn
November 14, 2025
Berkeley, CA: As California experiences an unprecedented surge in hyperscale data center construction driven by cloud computing and artificial intelligence, a new community partnership is stepping up to ensure that local
July 29, 2025
Tracking Change through OSINT: Building a Policy Timeline for the Military Community
Medium: Tracking Change through OSINT: Building a Policy Timeline for the Military Community, Ana Zoltova, HRC Investigations Lab alumna, reflects on leading a team of student researchers in partnership with The
July 23, 2025
Too Hot to Handle – Garment Workers in the Era of Extreme Heat
Student Fellowship in the News — WARDROBE CRISIS with Claire Press on Spotify: Too Hot to Handle – Garment Workers in the Era of Extreme Heat, featuring 2024 student fellowship alumna
July 17, 2025
Canada must come off the sidelines of international justice
The Trump administration has sanctioned the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, four of its judges, and a UN independent expert tasked with probing human rights abuses in the Palestinian territories. BASHAR TALEB/AFP/Getty
December 23, 2025
Human Rights Center response to pull of 60 Minutes segment “INSIDE CECOT”
We were shocked to learn Sunday that CBS Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss pulled a segment “Inside CECOT” from the roster of 60 Minutes that featured our Investigations Lab students and staff. The segment, hosted by correspondent Sharyn
July 29, 2025
Tracking Change through OSINT: Building a Policy Timeline for the Military Community
Medium: Tracking Change through OSINT: Building a Policy Timeline for the Military Community, Ana Zoltova, HRC Investigations Lab alumna, reflects on leading a team of student researchers in partnership with The
July 23, 2025
Too Hot to Handle – Garment Workers in the Era of Extreme Heat
Student Fellowship in the News — WARDROBE CRISIS with Claire Press on Spotify: Too Hot to Handle – Garment Workers in the Era of Extreme Heat, featuring 2024 student fellowship alumna
July 17, 2025
Canada must come off the sidelines of international justice
The Trump administration has sanctioned the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, four of its judges, and a UN independent expert tasked with probing human rights abuses in the Palestinian territories. BASHAR TALEB/AFP/Getty
July 17, 2025
Symposium on PMSCs: Who is Responsible? When Private Military Companies Aren’t Completely Private
Commentary in the News — OpinioJuris: Symposium on PMSCs: Who is Responsible? When Private Military Companies Aren’t Completely Private, co-authored by Lindsay Freeman, HRC Technology, Law
November 14, 2025
Berkeley, CA: As California experiences an unprecedented surge in hyperscale data center construction driven by cloud computing and artificial intelligence, a new community partnership is stepping up to ensure that local
December 5, 2023
Climate candor: Ridding climate cases of questionable science
HRC in the News — Open Global Rights: Climate candor: Ridding climate cases of questionable science, authored by Alexa Koenig and Baiboon Sakulkarunaarree.
January 8, 2021
A crude virus: How man camps can cause a COVID surge
A view of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation from the bank of the Missouri River in Forest City, South Dakota. Nearby, there are three oil worker man camps. Kristina Barker Commentary —
October 19, 2005
Human rights researchers find widespread problems after 2004 tsunami
Image by NOAA on Unsplash HRC in the News — Berkeley News: Human rights researchers find widespread problems after 2004 tsunami, writing about the report
January 31, 2025
Trump’s foreign aid freeze guts grassroots groups helping migrants in Latin America
Migrants eat lunch at the Peace Oasis of the Holy Spirit Amparito shelter in Villahermosa, Mexico, June 7, 2025. AP Photo / Felix Marquez, File. HRC in the News —
June 27, 2024
Pride in Supporting LGBTQI+ Children in Humanitarian Emergencies
Commentary — #Verified by the Human Rights Center: Pride in Supporting LGBTQI+ Children in Humanitarian Emergencies, authored by Julie Freccero and Audrey Taylor.
October 13, 2023
Fighting Impunity: International Criminal Court President Describes Triumphs and Challenges
Berkeley Law: Covering HRC event with ICC president Piotr Hofmański.
April 11, 2023
Five lessons on housing for youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation
FAM Caregiver recruitment ad. Image by Freedom Forward. Commentary — #Verified from the Human Rights Center: Five lessons on housing for youth
June 17, 2021
Five ways to prevent child marriage in refugee communities: 280 girls speak out
Commentary — Berkeley Blog: Five ways to prevent child marriage in refugee communities: 280 girls speak out, by Julie Freccero and Audrey Taylor.
December 23, 2025
Human Rights Center response to pull of 60 Minutes segment “INSIDE CECOT”
We were shocked to learn Sunday that CBS Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss pulled a segment “Inside CECOT” from the roster of 60 Minutes that featured our Investigations Lab students and staff. The segment, hosted by correspondent Sharyn
April 8, 2025
Launch of Pilot Version of the Murad Code Open-Source Practitioner’s Guide to the Murad Code
For Immediate Release Launch of Pilot Version of the Murad Code Open-Source Practitioner’s Guide to the Murad Code We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the pilot version of the Open-Source
April 3, 2025
For immediate release: Today, 3 April 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted to extend the mandate of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFMI), ensuring the FFMI’s critical
March 13, 2025
How social media is helping catch war criminals
HRC in the News — The Guardian, How social media is helping catch war criminals, a feature on the Berkeley Protocol and how it may help bring justice for atrocities committed in Sudan
February 26, 2025
Terror, Chaos, and Shame: When Information Operations Constitute War Crimes
A craftsman’s house in Mali. Photo by Taguelmoust. Commentary — Articles of War: Terror, Chaos, and Shame: When Information Operations Constitute War Crimes,
July 17, 2025
Symposium on PMSCs: Who is Responsible? When Private Military Companies Aren’t Completely Private
Commentary in the News — OpinioJuris: Symposium on PMSCs: Who is Responsible? When Private Military Companies Aren’t Completely Private, co-authored by Lindsay Freeman, HRC Technology, Law
July 1, 2025
Prosecuting the Sahel’s War Influencers with Lindsay Freeman
HRC in the News — Lawfare Daily: Prosecuting the Sahel’s War Influencers with Lindsay Freeman, HRC Technology, Law & Policy director.
June 23, 2025
Wagner Group in Belarus (BelTA News Agency, https://shorturl.at/ngypl; CC BY 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) Commentary in the News —
June 22, 2025
A confidential brief urges the ICC to investigate Wagner’s promotion of atrocities in West Africa
In this image from video posted on a Wagner Group-affiliated Telegram channel in July 2024, men in Burkina Faso military uniforms stand around a dead body lying on the ground as it was cut into pieces. (AP Photo)
June 22, 2025
Takeaways from AP report on Wagner allegedly committing war crimes by promoting atrocities
In this image from video posted on a Wagner Group-affiliated Telegram channel in July 2024, men in Burkina Faso military uniforms stand around a dead body lying on the ground as it was cut into pieces. (AP Photo) (Uncredited/AP)
July 23, 2025
Too Hot to Handle – Garment Workers in the Era of Extreme Heat
Student Fellowship in the News — WARDROBE CRISIS with Claire Press on Spotify: Too Hot to Handle – Garment Workers in the Era of Extreme Heat, featuring 2024 student fellowship alumna
March 21, 2025
On the ground with UC Berkeley Public Health’s Bhavya Joshi in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp
HRC in the News — UC Public Health: “Reaching the furthest behind, first:” On the ground with UC Berkeley Public Health’s Bhavya Joshi in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp, a feature on
April 29, 2024
Palestinians walk amid the rubble of destroyed buildings in Nuseirat, Gaza, on April 29, 2024. AFP via Getty Images Student Fellowship in the News — The Conversation:
December 12, 2023
Fighting Uphill Battles, Human Rights Center Student Fellows Stay Resolute in Their Work
Spotlighting 2022 fellow alumnus and keynote speaker Anthony Ghaly and 2023 fellow Maria Fernanda Quintero Sirtori.
December 19, 2022
Rare Feat: Berkeley Law Students Present Their Research at Major International Forum
Human Rights Center fellow, Anthony Ghali. HRC in the News — Berkeley Law: Rare Feat: Berkeley Law Students Present Their Research at Major