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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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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A person standing with arms crossed on a dry, reddish-brown cleared landscape, looking down at disturbed soil and scattered debris. Uprooted vegetation and exposed earth dominate the scene, emphasizing land clearing and environmental alteration in a sparsely vegetated area.

June 10, 2026

Israel’s ethnic cleansing of West Bank Bedouin and herding communities

Investigations Lab in the News — Amnesty International: Israel’s ethnic cleansing of West Bank Bedouin and herding communities, report supported by Investigations Lab

An elevated, wide shot showing the aftermath of a demolition on a rocky, arid hillside village. Two heavy excavators, one orange and one black, stand amidst piles of rubble, destroyed building materials, and overturned personal belongings. A small concrete structure in the center features graffiti that reads

June 10, 2026

Expansion and Erasure: Investigating Violence and Displacement in the West Bank

Student Reflections — #Verified by the Human Rights Center: Expansion and Erasure: Investigating Violence and Displacement in the West Bank, co-authored by Investigations Lab students

An older man wearing a traditional white headscarf and carrying a cane stands on a rocky hillside at dusk, pointing toward a distant town spread across rolling hills. Dry grasses, olive trees, and rugged terrain fill the foreground, while the pastel evening sky stretches above the landscape.

June 10, 2026

Erasing anything Palestinian: Israel’s ethnic cleansing campaign in the West Bank demands global action – new report

Investigations Lab in the News — Amnesty International: Erasing anything Palestinian: Israel’s ethnic cleansing campaign in the West Bank demands global action – new report, announcing

Two side profiles labeled “asymmetrical haircuts,” showing contrasting pink and blue faces

June 5, 2026

Justice Update – IBA Conference Calls

HRC in the News — Asymmetrical Haircuts: Justice Update – IBA Conference Calls, interviewing HRC’s Lindsay Freeman about artificial intelligence in international justice.

An illustration with a blurred city background, and various triangles layered on top.

May 26, 2026

HRC Job Opening: Development Officer

Position Summary This position serves as the fundraising lead with the Human Rights Center, a unit with UC Berkeley School of Law. This position reports directly to the Center’s executive director and supports the

An elevated, wide shot showing the aftermath of a demolition on a rocky, arid hillside village. Two heavy excavators, one orange and one black, stand amidst piles of rubble, destroyed building materials, and overturned personal belongings. A small concrete structure in the center features graffiti that reads

June 10, 2026

Expansion and Erasure: Investigating Violence and Displacement in the West Bank

Student Reflections — #Verified by the Human Rights Center: Expansion and Erasure: Investigating Violence and Displacement in the West Bank, co-authored by Investigations Lab students

An older man wearing a traditional white headscarf and carrying a cane stands on a rocky hillside at dusk, pointing toward a distant town spread across rolling hills. Dry grasses, olive trees, and rugged terrain fill the foreground, while the pastel evening sky stretches above the landscape.

June 10, 2026

Erasing anything Palestinian: Israel’s ethnic cleansing campaign in the West Bank demands global action – new report

Investigations Lab in the News — Amnesty International: Erasing anything Palestinian: Israel’s ethnic cleansing campaign in the West Bank demands global action – new report, announcing

Two side profiles labeled “asymmetrical haircuts,” showing contrasting pink and blue faces

June 5, 2026

Justice Update – IBA Conference Calls

HRC in the News — Asymmetrical Haircuts: Justice Update – IBA Conference Calls, interviewing HRC’s Lindsay Freeman about artificial intelligence in international justice.

KALX 90.7 FM Berkeley logo in red and black on a bright yellow background, with the text “KALX 90.7FM BERKELEY” inside a speech bubble

May 17, 2026

Berkeley Brainwaves Part 2

HRC in the News — KALX 90.7FM Radio: Berkeley Brainwaves Part 2, interviewing Alexa Koenig and Investigations Lab student team leads Talia Harter and Maneh Davityan about their investigation into El

KALX 90.7 FM Berkeley logo in red and black on a bright yellow background, with the text “KALX 90.7FM BERKELEY” inside a speech bubble

May 11, 2026

Berkeley Brainwaves Part 1

HRC in the News — KALX 90.7FM Radio: Berkeley Brainwaves Part 1, interviewing Alexa Koenig about doom scrolling, vicarious trauma, and psychological toll of graphic imagery online.

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

April 20, 2026

Landmark Case Filed Before African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Over Alleged Violations in Mali Involving Armed Forces and Wagner Group

HRC in the News — TRIAL International: Landmark Case Filed Before African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Over Alleged Violations in Mali Involving Armed Forces and Wagner Group, press

A picture of a women working at a broadcast desk, with white text in the middle

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

A women wearing all black speaks to a room of students

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

Portrait of a smiling woman with blonde hair.

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. 

A women in a dark room with her computer reflecting onto her classes

December 3, 2025

A milestone in standards for CRSV investigations: The open-source practitioners guide to the Murad Code

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

A man bends down to tend crops in the middle of long rows of farmland during sunset.

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

A person wearing a white T-shirt with bold black text that reads

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.

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 woman carrying a large metal bowl walks through a refugee site with makeshift shelters made of fabric and tarps. The shelters are clustered closely together, and trees are scattered in the background.

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:

A women with long hair standing at a podium

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.