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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Human Rights and…

Justice

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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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What’s Happening

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Three men walk on a dirt road. Their backs are to the camera. There are lush trees surrounding them.

October 3, 2024

War in Sudan: Displacement and the Loss of What Came Before

The author’s cousins walk to their neighborhood mosque for Eid prayer in Khartoum, Sudan on the morning of Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Commentary — #Verified by the

A young woman presents to a group of people from a podium. Behind her, a screen projects the image of two people in a boat.

October 3, 2024

The Quest for Fiscal Stability: How MacArthur’s $1 Million Bet on Human Rights Research Paid Off

HRC in the News — The Chronicle of Philanthropy: The Quest for Fiscal Stability: How MacArthur’s $1 Million Bet on Human Rights Research Paid Off, featuring the Human Rights

Nine people sit on the floor, their faces are shielded and they work on phones and computers. There is a mixture of women and men.

September 27, 2024

A New Digital Approach to Human Rights Documentation and Advocacy in Libya and Yemen 

Participants in the advanced open-source investigations training for Yemeni activists, held in Amman, Jordan, in July 2024, collaborate on a group activity. (Nour El Bejjani/ICTJ) HRC in the News

A woman holds a photo of a young man. Text reads:

September 26, 2024

Ten Years after Ayotzinapa, Government Impunity Stains the Pursuit of Justice

Commentary — El Faro: Ten Years after Ayotzinapa, Government Impunity Stains the Pursuit of Justice, authored by HRC visiting scholar Omar Gómez Trejo. Left: Maria de Jesus Tlatempa, 54,

A young girl stands on a car in a sea of protesters. She holds her middle and pointer finger up, indicative of the victory sign in Iran during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.

September 20, 2024

Reflections on investigating violence against Iranian protesters

An unveiled woman stands on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Aichi cemetery in Saqez, Mahsa Amini’s home town. Photograph: UGC/AFP/Getty Images Commentary —

A young woman presents to a group of people from a podium. Behind her, a screen projects the image of two people in a boat.

October 3, 2024

The Quest for Fiscal Stability: How MacArthur’s $1 Million Bet on Human Rights Research Paid Off

HRC in the News — The Chronicle of Philanthropy: The Quest for Fiscal Stability: How MacArthur’s $1 Million Bet on Human Rights Research Paid Off, featuring the Human Rights

Nine people sit on the floor, their faces are shielded and they work on phones and computers. There is a mixture of women and men.

September 27, 2024

A New Digital Approach to Human Rights Documentation and Advocacy in Libya and Yemen 

Participants in the advanced open-source investigations training for Yemeni activists, held in Amman, Jordan, in July 2024, collaborate on a group activity. (Nour El Bejjani/ICTJ) HRC in the News

A woman holds a photo of a young man. Text reads:

September 26, 2024

Ten Years after Ayotzinapa, Government Impunity Stains the Pursuit of Justice

Commentary — El Faro: Ten Years after Ayotzinapa, Government Impunity Stains the Pursuit of Justice, authored by HRC visiting scholar Omar Gómez Trejo. Left: Maria de Jesus Tlatempa, 54,

A young girl stands on a car in a sea of protesters. She holds her middle and pointer finger up, indicative of the victory sign in Iran during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.

September 20, 2024

Reflections on investigating violence against Iranian protesters

An unveiled woman stands on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Aichi cemetery in Saqez, Mahsa Amini’s home town. Photograph: UGC/AFP/Getty Images Commentary —

Several women in a room look off-camera.

September 19, 2024

Afghanistan’s Women Judges, Three Years After the Taliban Takeover

HRC in the News — Human Rights Watch: Afghanistan’s Women Judges, Three Years After the Taliban Takeover, interviewing Judge Basira Qazizada.

An orange wildfire burns with brown and black smoke shrouding the sky above.

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.

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

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 —

Image by NOAA on Unsplash

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

People hold a rainbow flag up to the sunlight, their silhouettes can be seen behind it.

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.

FAM Caregiver recruitment ad. Image by Freedom Forward.

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

Ugandan women collage

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.

Image by SJ Objio via Upsplash

March 1, 2021

Hundreds of health workers attacked amid pandemic

Image by SJ Objio via Upsplash HRC in the News — Associated Press: Hundreds of health workers attacked amid pandemic.  

Nine people sit on the floor, their faces are shielded and they work on phones and computers. There is a mixture of women and men.

September 27, 2024

A New Digital Approach to Human Rights Documentation and Advocacy in Libya and Yemen 

Participants in the advanced open-source investigations training for Yemeni activists, held in Amman, Jordan, in July 2024, collaborate on a group activity. (Nour El Bejjani/ICTJ) HRC in the News

A woman holds a photo of a young man. Text reads:

September 26, 2024

Ten Years after Ayotzinapa, Government Impunity Stains the Pursuit of Justice

Commentary — El Faro: Ten Years after Ayotzinapa, Government Impunity Stains the Pursuit of Justice, authored by HRC visiting scholar Omar Gómez Trejo. Left: Maria de Jesus Tlatempa, 54,

A computer graphic next to the words

August 16, 2024

Exhibit X: The Courts

HRC in the News — Computer Says Maybe: Exhibit X: The Courts, interviewing Alexa Koenig.

Text reading

July 25, 2024

Can’t believe your eyes?

Commentary — Counsel Magazine: Can’t believe your eyes?, co-authored by Alexa Koenig and Yvonne McDermott Rees

A platter with mint, herbs, nuts, tomatoes, and olives.

June 28, 2024

Nourishing the heart with Helia Sadeghi

HRC in the News — #Verified by the Human Rights Center: Nourishing the Heart With Helia Sadeghi, a feature on HRC researcher Helia Sadeghi.

A photo illustration using the portrait of a stoic man, with people in hazmat gear on behind him.

June 26, 2024

French Court of Appeal Validates Historic Arrest Warrant for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: A Legal Milestone and Important Victory for Survivors

HRC in the News — Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression: French Court of Appeal Validates Historic Arrest Warrant for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: A Legal Milestone and

An illustration of two scales and a circular olive branch are seen on a window of a building.

June 17, 2024

Exclusive: ICC probes cyberattacks in Ukraine as possible war crimes, sources say

HRC in the News — Reuters: Exclusive: ICC probes cyberattacks in Ukraine as possible war crimes, sources say, citing HRC’s ongoing investigation into Russian cyber attacks and Article

Two hands with arrows drawn around them press on a keyboard.

June 10, 2024

The Role of International Justice in Cyber Defense and Deterrence

Brian Stauffer illustration for FP Analytics. HRC Reflections — Digital Front Lines: The Role of International Justice in Cyber Defense and

Ruins of a city re pictured.

March 18, 2024

Le défi des enquêtes sur le web

HRC in the News — La Presse: Le défi des enquêtes sur le web, interviewing Lindsay Freeman. Left: In Eastern Ghouta, Syria, more than 1,000 people were killed in sarin gas attacks in

An illustration of two scales and a circular olive branch are seen on a window of a building.

March 13, 2024

Evidence of Russian Cyber Operations Could Bolster New ICC Arrest Warrants

Commentary — Lawfare: Evidence of Russian Cyber Operations Could Bolster New ICC Arrest Warrants, authored by Lindsay Freeman.

Palestinians walking amid the rubble of destroyed buildings

April 29, 2024

International prosecution of Israeli or Hamas leaders wouldn’t bring quick justice − and even bringing them to court will be difficult

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:

A young man sits and looks off-camera, there are two other people closer to the camera that are not in focus.

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.

Human Rights Center fellow, Anthony Ghali.

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

Net positive? Paul Salomone, a fisheries management biologist, samples herring to help determine whether the fishery should be opened for the day. (Nathaniel Wilder)

August 29, 2022

This Tiny Fish Holds Together Ecosystems and Cultures—It’s Also Under Threat, The Nation, written and reported by 2021 student fellow Brett Simpson

Student Fellowship Alumni — The Nation: This Tiny Fish Holds Together Ecosystems and Cultures—It’s Also Under Threat, The Nation, written and reported by 2021 student fellow Brett

HRC 2022 fellow Bhavya Joshi smiling for a picture.

June 24, 2022

Reproductive Health and Women’s Rights Researcher Includes Women Refugees from Ukraine to Croatia

HRC 2022 fellow Bhavya Joshi smiling for a picture. HRC in the News — ReciHr: Reproductive Health and Women’s Rights Researcher Includes Women