Pursuing justice through science, technology, and law.
Based at the world’s top public university, we investigate human rights violations and international crimes; set standards for practitioners; and train the next generation of human rights defenders.
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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.
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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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March 20, 2026
The Iranian school bombing and the information war
HRC in the News — Financial Times: The Iranian school bombing and the information war, interviewing HRC Co-Faculty Director Alexa Koenig. Left: The remains of a school in Minab that was
March 19, 2026
There’s an Information Void at the Heart of the Iran War
HRC in the News — Bloomberg: There’s an Information Void at the Heart of the Iran War, interviewing HRC Co-Faculty Director Alexa Koenig. Left: Tehran’s Gandhi Hospital was damaged by
March 17, 2026
HRC in the News — OpenMinds: San Francisco Specialized Foster Care Pilot For Youth Survivors Of Commercial Sexual Exploitation Resulted In Better Outcomes, reporting on the completion of the
March 17, 2026
HRC in the News — ICTJ: Human Rights Defenders from Sudan and the Wider Region Harness the Power of Digital, Open-Source Investigative Tools, on HRC’s training on digital open source
March 11, 2026
Trump blamed Iran for a strike that hit a girls’ school. Open-source intelligence contradicted that
HRC in the News — POLITIFACT: Trump blamed Iran for a strike that hit a girls’ school. Open-source intelligence contradicted that, interviewing HRC Co-Faculty Director Alexa
March 20, 2026
The Iranian school bombing and the information war
HRC in the News — Financial Times: The Iranian school bombing and the information war, interviewing HRC Co-Faculty Director Alexa Koenig. Left: The remains of a school in Minab that was
March 19, 2026
There’s an Information Void at the Heart of the Iran War
HRC in the News — Bloomberg: There’s an Information Void at the Heart of the Iran War, interviewing HRC Co-Faculty Director Alexa Koenig. Left: Tehran’s Gandhi Hospital was damaged by
March 17, 2026
HRC in the News — OpenMinds: San Francisco Specialized Foster Care Pilot For Youth Survivors Of Commercial Sexual Exploitation Resulted In Better Outcomes, reporting on the completion of the
March 17, 2026
HRC in the News — ICTJ: Human Rights Defenders from Sudan and the Wider Region Harness the Power of Digital, Open-Source Investigative Tools, on HRC’s training on digital open source
March 11, 2026
Trump blamed Iran for a strike that hit a girls’ school. Open-source intelligence contradicted that
HRC in the News — POLITIFACT: Trump blamed Iran for a strike that hit a girls’ school. Open-source intelligence contradicted that, interviewing HRC Co-Faculty Director Alexa
December 23, 2025
KQED Newscast on CECOT Segment
HRC in the News — KQED Newscast: about HRC’s Investigations Lab, which was set to be featured in a 60 Minutes segment “Inside CECOT” before it was pulled just hours
December 10, 2025
Investigating sexual and gender-based crimes online
Commentary — #Verified by the Human Rights Center: Investigating sexual and gender-based crimes online, Alexa Koenig interviewing Bellingcat researcher Kolina Koltai. Left: Koltina Koltai
December 9, 2025
Israel rejects Gaza war crime allegations
HRC in the News — DW News: Israel rejects Gaza war crime allegations, interviewing HRC’s Alexa Koenig (5.00–14:20) about documenting allegations of war crimes.
December 3, 2025
HRC in the News — Centre for Information Resilience: A milestone in standards for CRSV investigations: The open-source practitioners guide to the Murad Code, featuring the HRC and IICI
November 27, 2025
Symposium on Open Source Investigation Labs: AI for Open Source Investigation
Commentary — OpinioJuris: Symposium on Open Source Investigation Labs: AI for Open Source Investigation, co-authored by Guillén Torres.
September 1, 2025
Who controls California farmland? The hard-to-find answer is disturbing
Commentary — San Francisco Chronicle: Who controls California farmland? The hard-to-find answer is disturbing, co-authored by HRC Student Fellow Meredith Song. Left: Fresno County farmer
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: Too Hot to Handle – Garment Workers in the Era of Extreme Heat, featuring 2024 student fellowship alumna Cara Schulte.
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
November 4, 2024
Reproductive Health in Refugee Camps: A Lifeline Amid Compounded Crises
Student Fellowship in the News — UC Global Health Institute: Reproductive Health in Refugee Camps: A Lifeline Amid Compounded Crises, featuring 2022 student fellow Bhavya Joshi. Left:
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.