The HRC protects and promotes human rights worldwide by investigating and documenting human rights abuses and training the next generation of human rights researchers, policymakers, and advocates. They use empirical research methods to investigate and expose serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. In their studies and reports, they recommend specific policy measures that should be taken by governments and international organisations to protect vulnerable populations in times of war and political and social upheaval.
The Human Rights Center is a unit of International and Area Studies (IAS) at UC Berkeley and works closely with the International Human Rights Law Clinic, Boalt Hall School of Law and the UC Berkeley War Crimes Studies Center.