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
International Criminal Court logo
SITU Research logo
WITNESS logo

What’s Happening

Show me:
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.

Three people on stage.

February 28, 2024

Human Rights Center hosts UN high commissioner, launches digital open source investigations

HRC in the News — The Daily Californian: Human Rights Center hosts UN high commissioner, launches digital open source investigations, reporting on the Berkeley Protocol launch with U.N. High

February 23, 2024

HRC and U.N. Human Rights launch Berkeley Protocol

Berkeley Human Rights Center and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights co-launch global guidelines on investigating human rights violations online On February 13, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk

Four people sit on a stage.

February 23, 2024

Human Rights Center and U.N. Human Rights co-launch Berkeley Protocol

HRC in the News — #Verified by the Human Rights Center: Berkeley Human Rights Center and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights co-launch global guidelines on investigating human rights

A man smiles at the camera. He has glasses, grey hair, and a mustache.

February 22, 2024

AAAS Honors 2024 Award Recipients

HRC in the News — Science Magazine: AAAS Honors 2024 Award Recipients, announcing Eric Stover as the recipient of the 2024 AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility.

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.

Three people on stage.

February 28, 2024

Human Rights Center hosts UN high commissioner, launches digital open source investigations

HRC in the News — The Daily Californian: Human Rights Center hosts UN high commissioner, launches digital open source investigations, reporting on the Berkeley Protocol launch with U.N. High

February 23, 2024

HRC and U.N. Human Rights launch Berkeley Protocol

Berkeley Human Rights Center and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights co-launch global guidelines on investigating human rights violations online On February 13, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk

Four people sit on a stage.

February 23, 2024

Human Rights Center and U.N. Human Rights co-launch Berkeley Protocol

HRC in the News — #Verified by the Human Rights Center: Berkeley Human Rights Center and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights co-launch global guidelines on investigating human rights

A man smiles at the camera. He has glasses, grey hair, and a mustache.

February 22, 2024

AAAS Honors 2024 Award Recipients

HRC in the News — Science Magazine: AAAS Honors 2024 Award Recipients, announcing Eric Stover as the recipient of the 2024 AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility.

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

Commentary — High Country News: A crude virus: How man camps can cause a COVID surge by Kalen Goodluck, Lucy Meyer and Anjali Shrivastava (a collaboration with the Human Rights Center).

Image by NOAA on Unsplash

October 19, 2005

Human rights researchers find widespread problems after 2004 tsunami

HRC in the News — Berkeley News: Human rights researchers find widespread problems after 2004 tsunami, writing about the report “After the Tsunami: Human Rights of Vulnerable

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

Commentary — #Verified from the Human Rights Center: Five lessons on housing for youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation, authored by Julie Freccero and Audrey Taylor.

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

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

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

Commentary — High Country News: A crude virus: How man camps can cause a COVID surge by Kalen Goodluck, Lucy Meyer and Anjali Shrivastava (a collaboration with the Human Rights Center).

Three people on stage.

February 28, 2024

Human Rights Center hosts UN high commissioner, launches digital open source investigations

HRC in the News — The Daily Californian: Human Rights Center hosts UN high commissioner, launches digital open source investigations, reporting on the Berkeley Protocol launch with U.N. High

February 23, 2024

HRC and U.N. Human Rights launch Berkeley Protocol

Berkeley Human Rights Center and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights co-launch global guidelines on investigating human rights violations online On February 13, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk

Four people sit on a stage.

February 23, 2024

Human Rights Center and U.N. Human Rights co-launch Berkeley Protocol

HRC in the News — #Verified by the Human Rights Center: Berkeley Human Rights Center and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights co-launch global guidelines on investigating human rights

Cover image of a magazine article with the words

February 20, 2024

International Verification Standards for Open Source Videos

Commentary — ABA Science & Technology Law Magazine: International Verification Standards for Open Source Videos, authored by Alexa Koenig.

People behind a barred area watch a bulldozer demolish a structure.

February 7, 2024

India: Authorities must immediately stop unjust targeted demolition of Muslim properties – new reports

Investigations Lab in the News — Amnesty International: India: Authorities must immediately stop unjust targeted demolition of Muslim properties – new reports, citing investigation

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.

A group of people sit around a table. Flags of the International Criminal Court are present.

February 2, 2024

ICC Office of the Prosecutor hosts conference on cyber-enabled crimes

HRC in the News —   ICC Office of the Prosecutor: ICC Office of the Prosecutor hosts conference on cyber-enabled crimes, featuring Lindsay Freeman (remarks begin at 2:55).  

A toy bulldozer is shown among small toy buildings.

January 10, 2024

Cyberattacks as war crimes

HRC in the News — IBA Global Insights Magazine: Cyberattacks as war crimes, interviewing Technology, Law & Policy Director Lindsay Freeman.

A bombed out building.

November 22, 2023

SRT grantees celebrates victory as France issues international arrest warrant for Syria’s Bashar al-Assad

HRC in the News — Sigrid Rausing Trust: SRT grantees celebrates victory as France issues international arrest warrant for Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, reporting on universal jurisdiction case

An collage of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in between two containers indicating chemical content.

November 15, 2023

French Magistrates Issue Arrest Warrants for the Syrian President and Three Associates for Chemical Weapons Attacks

HRC in the News — Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression: French Magistrates Issue Arrest Warrants for the Syrian President and Three Associates for Chemical Weapons Attacks,

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

HRC in the News — Berkeley Law: Rare Feat: Berkeley Law Students Present Their Research at Major International Forum, student researchers highlighted.

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 in the News — ReciHr: Reproductive Health and Women’s Rights Researcher Includes Women Refugees from Ukraine to Croatia, interviewing 2022 student fellow, Bhavya Joshi, on

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

Commentary — High Country News: A crude virus: How man camps can cause a COVID surge by Kalen Goodluck, Lucy Meyer and Anjali Shrivastava (a collaboration with the Human Rights Center).