Human Rights Center

@hrcberkeley.bsky.social

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Investigating war crimes, pursuing justice, and preparing tomorrow's advocates. https://humanrights.berkeley.edu/

Graphic titled "CHARTING THE CRACKDOWN." Subtitle: "The misuse of crowd-control weapons in immigration enforcement protests across the United States, June 2025-June 2026." The background shows a blurry image of a person holding a projectile launcher. At the top right are logos for "PHR" and "HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER UC Berkeley School of Law". At the bottom, text reads: "Explore at phr.org/charting-the-crackdown".
Graphic with text over a blurry background of a person holding a projectile weapon. Text reads: "As people across the United States protested the Trump administration's escalating immigration enforcement, many were met with excessive force. Law enforcement officers repeatedly misused crowd-control weapons against demonstrators exercising their First Amendment rights." Includes a red arrow pointing right and logos for "CHARTING THE CRACKDOWN", "PHR", and "HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER".
Graphic with a black "BREAKING" banner. Text reads: "U.S. law enforcement misused dangerous crowd-control weapons against protesters more than 400 times during demonstrations against Trump’s immigration enforcement actions." The phrase "400 times" is highlighted in red. The bottom includes a red arrow pointing right, plus logos for "CHARTING THE CRACKDOWN", "PHR", and "HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER UC Berkeley School of Law" against a blurry background of a person holding a weapon.
A large, rocky mountain peak rises dramatically in the background under a clear blue sky, with a small puff of white smoke or steam venting from its side. Dense green forest and tropical foliage fill the foreground and midground, with tree branches framing the upper left.
Flyer for "DIGITAL WARFARE: From The Ground Up", a virtual event on Thursday, June 4, 9am PST. A graphic shows ruined buildings with white Wi-Fi signals. Hosted by UC Berkeley Human Rights Center; co-sponsored by Access Now, 7amleh, and Sudan Youth Citizens Observers Network. Panelists will discuss the impact of internet destruction and surveillance on civilians in Palestine and Sudan, and advocate for a "digital ceasefire". Includes a QR code to register.
Flyer for "DIGITAL WARFARE: From The Ground Up", a virtual event on Thursday, June 4, 9am PST. A graphic shows ruined buildings with white Wi-Fi signals. Hosted by UC Berkeley Human Rights Center; co-sponsored by Access Now, 7amleh, and Sudan Youth Citizens Observers Network. Panelists will discuss the impact of internet destruction and surveillance on civilians in Palestine and Sudan, and advocate for a "digital ceasefire". Includes a QR code to register.
An event flyer titled "DIGITAL WARFARE: From The Ground Up" features a graphic of ruins with Wi-Fi icons. This virtual webinar takes place Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 9 a.m. PST, replacing a session originally planned for RightsCon Zambia. Speakers Jalal Abukhater (7amleh) and Hanaa Eltigani (YCON) will discuss how civilians in Palestine and Sudan face destroyed internet infrastructure, surveillance, and online incitement. Betsy Popken (UC Berkeley) and Marwa Fatafta (Access Now) will explain advocacy for a "digital ceasefire" and a new Deescalation Handbook developed with Brett Solomon. Co-sponsored by the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center, Access Now, 7amleh, and YCON, the event requires registration at tinyurl.com/DigitalWarfare2026. For disability accommodations, contact hrcevents@berkeley.edu or (510) 642-0965. The image is credited to Access Now and includes a registration QR code.
Course description: Open Source Investigation - Foundational. Logos read: Institute for International Criminal Investigations and Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley School of Law.
Course description: Open Source Investigation - Foundational. Logos read: Institute for International Criminal Investigations and Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley School of Law.
Course description: Open Source Investigation - Foundational. Logos read: Institute for International Criminal Investigations and Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley School of Law.
A person holds a cut-out star that reads: "Big Give."
A group of young people stand on steps outdoors. Text reads: YOUNG AMERICANS SUING THE EPA FOR EQUAL PROTECTION RIGHTS ARE HEADING TO COURT RALLY AND PACK THE COURTROOM! March 5, 2026 | Rally Starts at 8:30AM / Court Proceedings Start at 10AM at James R. Browning U.S. Courthouse, 95 7th St, San Francisco, CA 94103. RSVP: bit.ly/genesishearing-rsvp
A report cover shows a man walking a dog in a crosswalk of a city street. There are cars and buildings and trees on both sides of the road. In the background is a bridge. Text reads: "I just wanted to leave, but I had nowhere to go. l just went to my family member's house, and they [the primary caregiver] didn't hear from me [for] a little bit. I feel like FAM is also a place for kids that are going through something...to get away for a minute. That's how I learned about the program. I wouldn't have to run away. If I need space or if I need time, I can go over there." — FAM 2.0 Participant reflecting on their Alternative Caregiver
A woman stands at a podium and speaks to people sitting down.
UC Berkeley Homecoming Weekend 2025, Making Impact: Fighting for Human Rights at UC Berkeley, Maude Fife Room, Third Floor, Wheeler Hall. Friday, October 3, 10:00 — 11:00 a.m. Three women are pictured smiling at the camera.
Two women sit on stage in front of a crowd. One of the women is speaking into a microphone.
OPEN-SOURCE PRACTITIONER'S GUIDE TO THE MURAD CODE APPLYING MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THE SAFE, ETHICAL AND EFFECTIVE GATHERING AND USE OF OPEN-SOURCE INFORMATION ABOUT SYSTEMATIC AND CONFLICT-RELATED SEXUAL VIOLENCE PILOT VERSION - APRIL 2025.
A group of young women sit around a table, laughing. They are debriefing after a roundtable discussion providing feedback on initial findings for a study documenting South Sudanese women's access to reproductive health care during their journeys as refugees from South Sudan to Kenya's Kakuma Refugee Camp.
A woman puts a post-it note on a wall, next to a man. The two are participating in a roundtable discussion providing feedback on initial findings for a study documenting South Sudanese women's access to reproductive health care during their journeys as refugees from South Sudan to Kenya's Kakuma Refugee Camp.
Course: Open Source investigation - Advanced. Institute for International Criminal Investigations + Human Rights Center at UC Berkeley School of Law.
2025 Stefan A. Riesenfeld Symposium: LAWYERING FOR PEACE 2025 Riesenfeld Award Recipient, Laurel Fletcher, UC Berkeley Chancellor's Clinical Professor of Law. - Welcome refreshments 11:00 am | Goldberg Room - Peace Negotiations 11:25 am - 12:40 pm / Goldberg Room - Tools and Mechanisms for Peace | 12:50 pm - 2:05 pm | Warren Room - LUNCH PROVIDED - U.S. Exceptionalism and International Courts 2:10 - 3:25 pm Goldberg Room - Capstone talk: On War, Peace and Other ICJ Matters: A Conversation with Bench and Bar I. 3:35 - 5:25 pm Booth Auditorium - Reception and Dinner | 5:30pm | Faculty Club
Digital Ceasefire: A New Model for Peace in the Digital Age? Thursday, February 27, 12:45 PM CST. Betsy Popken, Human Rights Center, Executive Director, Climate Justice Director. Brett Solomon, Human Rights Center, Senior Research Fellow. In-person session, room 201B.
Tweetdeck is Trapped, Now What? Preparing a Next Generation of Open Source Investigators. Wednesday, February 26, 4:30 PM CST / 12:30 AM PT. Alexa Koenig, Human Rights Center. Brian Nguyen, Human Rights Center. Lene Guercke, Human Rights Center. Andrea Richardson, Human Rights Center. Hybrid session, 202A in-person.
Attacks against healthcare in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan – Leveraging tech and authenticated footage for accountability. Wednesday, February 26, 2:00 PM CST / Tuesday, February 25, 11:00 PM PT. Alexa Koenig, Human Rights Center, Co-Faculty and Investigations Director. Online session.
Triangulating the Truth in Troubled Times: OSINT Hackathon. Wednesday, February 26, 2:00 PM CST / Tuesday, February 25, 11:00 PM PT. Brian Nguyen, Human Rights Center. Ceren Fitoz, Human Rights Center. Lene Guercke, Human Rights Center. Online Session.
Lessons Learned from Public Human Rights Assessments of Generative AI. Wednesday, February 26, 11:30 AM CST. Betsy Popken, Human Rights Center, Executive Director, Climate Justice Director. Camille Chabot, Human Rights Center, Technology Researcher. In-person session, Room 201E.
Digital Ceasefire: A New Model for Peace in the Digital Age? Thursday, February 27, 12:45 PM CST. Betsy Popken, Human Rights Center, Executive Director, Climate Justice Director. Brett Solomon, Human Rights Center, Senior Research Fellow. In-person session, room 201B.
Triangulating the Truth in Troubled Times: OSINT Hackathon. Wednesday, February 26, 2:00 PM CST / Tuesday, February 25, 11:00 PM PT. Brian Nguyen, Human Rights Center. Ceren Fitoz, Human Rights Center. Lene Guercke, Human Rights Center. Online Session.
Tweetdeck is Trapped, Now What? Preparing a Next Generation of Open Source Investigators. Wednesday, February 26, 4:30 PM CST / 12:30 AM PT. Alexa Koenig, Human Rights Center. Brian Nguyen, Human Rights Center. Lene Guercke, Human Rights Center. Andrea Richardson, Human Rights Center. Hybrid session, 202A in-person.
Attacks against healthcare in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan – Leveraging tech and authenticated footage for accountability. Wednesday, February 26, 2:00 PM CST / Tuesday, February 25, 11:00 PM PT. Alexa Koenig, Human Rights Center, Co-Faculty and Investigations Director. Online session.
Lessons Learned from Public Human Rights Assessments of Generative AI. Wednesday, February 26, 11:30 AM CST. Betsy Popken, Human Rights Center, Executive Director, Climate Justice Director. Camille Chabot, Human Rights Center, Technology Researcher. In-person session, Room 201E.
2023 student fellow Sediqa Zaki presents on human rights abuses against Hazara women in Afghanistan on October 13, 2023 at Berkeley Law's Warren Room.
The Center for Race & Gender and the Human Rights Center at UC Berkeley present: SPECIAL TWO DAY EVENT - GUANTÁNAMO 22 YEARS IN. Day ONE: WITNESSES OF THE UNSEEN: LAKHDAR BOUMEDIÈNE AND THE LEGACY OF BOUMEDIÈNE V. BUSH Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024 12:45 - 2:00 PM 170 Law Building (Koret Room) RSVP: bit.ly/Spring2024-CRGEventReg Day TWO: THE MAURITANIAN: A CONVERSATION WITH MOHAMEDOU OULD SLAHI Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024 12:45 - 2:00 PM 110 Law Building 12:45 - 2:00 PM 170 Law Building (Koret Room) RSVP: bit.ly/Spring2024-CRGEventReg
The Broken Promise premiers December 8, 2023 on KQED at 8 p.m. PT.
HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER FELLOWSHIP 2024 APPLICATIONS DUE FEBRUARY 20, 2024 STIPENDS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WORK SUMMER 2024 The Human Rights Center's Student Fellowship provides $8,000 stipends and professional support to UC Berkeley undergraduate, graduate, or graduating students to conduct social justice-related projects with an international or domestic partner organization over the summer and participate in our year-long fellowship. Since 1994, we've enabled over 400 fellows to work with a broad variety of human rights defenders in over 80 countries. All info sessions are open to Cal students from any discipline, including graduating students. For more information, visit humanrights.berkeley.edu/fellowship or email fellowship coordinator Alexey Berlind at aberlind@berkeley.edu.
Lessons from Syrian Opposition Negotiators for Ukraine Register here: https://berkeley.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eqddgDwKTI-OkgWlzFFrlg#/registration Betsy Popken, Executive Director of UC Berkeley's Human Rights Center, will moderate a conversation on lessons learned first-hand from Syrian Opposition negotiators that may be applied to future negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Featured Speakers: Noura Aljizawi: Syrian Opposition Negotiator; Senior Researcher, Citizen Lab Hosam Hafez: Syrian Opposition Negotiator; Director, QCM, Law, Politics and Society Hind Kabawat: Syrian Opposition Negotiator; President, Tastakel; Director, Interfaith Peacebuilding, George Mason University Mark Ward: Former Director of the U.S. State Department's Syria Transition Assistance and Response Team
Four young people look at a city skyline. Their faces are obscured. Image by Devin Avery via Unsplash.
Lessons from Syrian Opposition Negotiators for Ukraine Register here: https://berkeley.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eqddgDwKTI-OkgWlzFFrlg#/registration Betsy Popken, Executive Director of UC Berkeley's Human Rights Center, will moderate a conversation on lessons learned first-hand from Syrian Opposition negotiators that may be applied to future negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Featured Speakers: Noura Aljizawi: Syrian Opposition Negotiator; Senior Researcher, Citizen Lab Hosam Hafez: Syrian Opposition Negotiator; Director, QCM, Law, Politics and Society Hind Kabawat: Syrian Opposition Negotiator; President, Tastakel; Director, Interfaith Peacebuilding, George Mason University Mark Ward: Former Director of the U.S. State Department's Syria Transition Assistance and Response Team
Graphic: Trauma and Meaning in our Online Lives, Book Launch. RSVP: https://events.berkeley.edu/hrc/event/224387-graphic-book-launch-reception-with-the-authors Thursday, December 7 Reception: 5:00 p.m. Discussion: 5:30 p.m. Hosted on campus at UC Berkeley. For accommodations for people with disabilities please call (510) 642 0965 Featuring: Elizabeth Farnsworth: Filmmaker, foreign correspondent, and former chief correspondent and principal substitute anchor of PBS NewsHour Alexa Koenig: co-faculty director of the Human Rights Center, adjunct professor at Berkeley Law, co-founder of HRC Investigations Lab Andrea Lampros: communications director at Berkeley Journalism, co-founder of HRC Investigations Lab