The Human Rights Center offers training courses and workshops on digital open source investigations to human rights researchers, lawyers, analysts, investigators, and journalists worldwide. Our trainers teach the methodology and techniques found in the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations and Digital Witness: Using Open Source Information for Human Rights Investigation, Documentation and Accountability. Our foundational training focuses on investigations into violations of international criminal, humanitarian, and human rights law. We use our first-hand experience conducting and supporting open source investigations in combination with research developed at HRC to engage participants through lecture, case studies, and hands-on exercises.
Right: Technology, Law & Policy researcher Ceren Fitoz (middle) speaks with the Head of the International Center for Transitional Justice’s Libya program Reem el-Gantri (right), and participants from Yemen’s National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights in Amman, Jordan.
“Without a doubt, applying these skills within our operational context, set in a “war” environment, will yield considerable benefits… it yields essential information that might remain beyond the scope of conventional investigative methods.”
—Course participant from Yemen’s National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights
Training Team
Brian Nguyen
Research Manager, Lead Trainer
Human Rights Center
Alexa Koenig
Co-Faculty Director; Director, Investigations Program
Human Rights Center
Lindsay Freeman
Director, Technology, Law & Policy Program
Human Rights Center
Danil Cuffe
Digital Investigator, Technology, Law & Policy Program
Human Rights Center
Ceren Fitoz
Digital Investigator, Technology, Law & Policy
Human Rights Center
Maggie Andresen
Editorial Manager, Lead Writer
Human Rights Center
Partners
Courses
In partnership with the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI), the Human Rights Center offers a flagship 5-day digital open source investigation course for professionals across a variety of fields including, but not limited to, international human rights and criminal analysts and investigators, law enforcement, lawyers, and investigative journalists. Case studies and exercises focus on the investigation of violations of international criminal, humanitarian and human rights law. We also offer an advanced course for more experienced practitioners. Scholarships are available for those with financial need. Check this page and the IICI course page for details on upcoming trainings (please note that we only partner with IICI on the Foundational and Advanced courses on Open Source Investigations, and are not affiliated with their other coursework).
Beyond our flagship courses, HRC provides ad hoc training courses for civil society, governmental, and other organizations on request. Our trainings are provided pro bono to local human rights organizations that are making meaningful impact in their communities.
Training Materials
Dec 01, 2020
Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations: A Practical Guide on the Effective Use of Digital Open Source Information in Investigating Violations of International Criminal, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
View Publication
Dec 18, 2019
Digital Witness: Using Open Source Information for Human Rights Investigation, Documentation and Accountability
View PublicationSome of the groups we’ve trained include:
- The 5AM Coalition
- The Associated Press
- The Center for Justice and Accountability
- The Conflict Observatory
- The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights
- The European Human Rights Advocacy Centre
- The International Criminal Court
- The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
- The Open Society Justice Initiative
- The Project on Government Oversight for U.S. Congressional Staff
- The UN-Philippines Joint Programme for Human Rights
- Yemen’s National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights
News
August 28, 2023
Berkeley Law Center Helps Train Yemen Investigators Pursuing Justice for Wartime Atrocities
HRC in the News — Berkeley Law: Berkeley Law Center Helps Train Yemen Investigators Pursuing Justice for Wartime Atrocities, a feature on HRC’s professional training program. Left:
February 21, 2023
In Ukraine, Berkeley experts are shaping the legal fight against war crimes
HRC in the News — Berkeley News: In Ukraine, Berkeley experts are shaping the legal fight against war crimes, feature on the Berkeley Protocol’s application in Ukraine.
Booking Trainings
For more information about our professional trainings, please reach out to our lead trainer Brian Nguyen at [bh.nguyen@berkeley.edu].