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.

Learn More

Human Rights and…

Justice

Logo of Human Rights Center UC Berkeley School of Law

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.
Amnesty International logo
MacArthur Foundation
Human Rights Watch logo
UN OHCHR logo
Save the Children logo
Reuters logo
PBS logo
SITU Research logo
WITNESS logo
The New York Times logo

What’s Happening

Show me:
People sit around a table. They appear to be in conversation.

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

A book titled

March 21, 2025

Human rights lawyer, refugee scholar enjoys mentoring next generation

Patty Blum poses for a portrait in her San Anselmo home office. Image by Laura Morton for SFGate. HRC in the News — SFGate: Human rights lawyer,

Several vertical screenshots made to look like they are on phone screens are surrounded by a yellow circle.

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

Text: Omar Gómez Trejo on the 2014 disappearance of 43 students in the Ayotzinapa case:

February 27, 2025

Enforced Disappearances in Mexico

HRC in the News — Asymmetrical Haircuts: Enforced Disappearances in Mexico, interviewing Omar Gómez Trejo.

This week in cyberspace

February 26, 2025

Interview with Betsy Popken

HRC in the News — This Week in Cyberspace: 77–Betsy Popken, interviewing Betsy Popken.

People sit around a table. They appear to be in conversation.

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

A book titled

March 21, 2025

Human rights lawyer, refugee scholar enjoys mentoring next generation

Patty Blum poses for a portrait in her San Anselmo home office. Image by Laura Morton for SFGate. HRC in the News — SFGate: Human rights lawyer,

Several vertical screenshots made to look like they are on phone screens are surrounded by a yellow circle.

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

Text: Omar Gómez Trejo on the 2014 disappearance of 43 students in the Ayotzinapa case:

February 27, 2025

Enforced Disappearances in Mexico

HRC in the News — Asymmetrical Haircuts: Enforced Disappearances in Mexico, interviewing Omar Gómez Trejo.

This week in cyberspace

February 26, 2025

Interview with Betsy Popken

HRC in the News — This Week in Cyberspace: 77–Betsy Popken, interviewing Betsy Popken.

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

A group of people eat bowls of food at a table. None of them are looking at the camera.

January 31, 2025

Trump’s foreign aid freeze guts grassroots groups helping migrants in Latin America

Migrants eat lunch at teh Peace Oasis of the Holy Spirit Amparito shelter in Villahermosa, Mexico, June 7, 2025. AP Photo / Felix Marquez, File. HRC in the News —

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.

Several vertical screenshots made to look like they are on phone screens are surrounded by a yellow circle.

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

Several people outside a building made with brick materials. The building is in a sandy, sunny place.

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,

Image: The shadow of a person is depicted with a framed box. Text: Covering Gender Based Violence, Bellingcat.

February 21, 2025

Covering Gender Based Violence with Alexa Koenig

HRC in the News — Bellingcat: “Covering Gender Based Violence” with Alexa Koenig, interviewing Alexa Koenig.

Ruins of a city re pictured.

December 20, 2024

Documenting Assad’s Crimes: Over 100,000 found in a single mass grave

HRC in the News — Times Radio: Documenting Assad’s Crimes: Over 100,000 found in a single mass grave, interviewing Eric Stover.

The opposition flag of Syria, depicting a green stripe, a white stripe with three red stars, and a black stripe.

December 9, 2024

For Press: UC Berkeley Human Rights Center Providing Expertise on Syria

Media Advisory On Sunday, December 8, Syria’s capital city of Damascus was liberated by multiple opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), ending the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. The liberation of Damascus came

Several people outside a building made with brick materials. The building is in a sandy, sunny place.

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,

A man sits at a lectern with a microphone. He is not looking at the camera.

December 11, 2024

Dear Congress: If You Value National Security, Do Not Sanction the ICC

Commentary — Dear Congress: If You Value National Security, Do Not Sanction the ICC, Lawfare, authored by Lindsay Freeman.

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

People sit around a table. They appear to be in conversation.

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

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 Ghaly.

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