The Promise Institute for Human Rights
With our innovative courses, globally renowned experts and opportunities to launch students into human rights careers, there is no better place to study human rights law than The Promise Institute.
Join Us May 9-10 to Honor Human Rights Defenders & Humanitarians with the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative
For the first time, the Aurora Prize, established by our co-hosts Aurora Humanitarian Initiative to honor and support the critical work of leading human rights defenders and humanitarians, will be awarded at UCLA! The awardee will be chosen from the 2024 nominees announced at the Clinton Global Initiative and include Dr. Denis Mukwege, a doctor for victims of rape as a weapon of war from the DRC; Nasrin Sotoudeh, defender of political prisoners from Iran; and Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, democracy defender from Bahrain/Denmark. The selection committee includes Lord Ara Darzi, George Clooney, Leymah Gbowee, Dame Louse Richardson, Mary Robinson, Ernesto Zedillo, John Prendergast, Dele Olojede & Paul Polman.
Details & RegistrationThe Iranian Archive
We are collaborating with a powerful coalition of human rights organizations to launch the Iranian Archive. This landmark archive forensically preserves +1,300,000 vulnerable digital artifacts recording serious human rights violations committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Woman, Life, Freedom movement protesters.
The Iranian Archive is intended to support future investigations and accountability proceedings. Many of the events documented appear to be serious human rights violations and may amount to crimes against humanity.
For accountability orgs seeking access to the Archive, please contact Jess Peake, promiseinstitute@law.ucla.edu
Read the Announcement2024 Symposium:
Human Rights and Artificial Intelligence
Letter to President Biden on Nagorno/Karabakh-Artsakh
Marking the 75th anniversary of the Genocide Convention, Executive Director Prof. Hannah R. Garry and other experts call on the Biden administration to put words to action for accountability for international crimes by Azerbaijan against displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh.
Concrete measure are needed NOW to prevent further atrocities including: impose sanctions, withhold military aid and establish a fact-finding mission.
Indigenous Land Defenders of Brazil: In Memoriam (2019-2022)
Our November 2023 report looks at the deaths of thirteen Indigenous leaders along with emerging regions of risk in Brazil, and is unique in the way that it maps the threat Indigenous land defenders face as they stand up to extractivists.
Promise Institute Assistant Director and head of our Digital Investigations Lab, Prof. Jess Peake noted “The report is a powerful advocacy tool which highlights a small fraction of the deaths of Indigenous Peoples in Brazil, many of which remain otherwise invisible to outside communities.”
Learn More about the Defenders and our ReportEvents
How Did We Get Here? A Deep Dive into the History of Israel and Palestine
Learn MoreASIL Side Event: Crimes Against Humanity: From Draft Articles to Treaty in 2024?
Learn MoreCourses
We offer an inspiring education in human rights that goes far beyond the law.
Faculty / Experts
Our professors, lecturers, speakers, fellows and researchers represent the vanguard of human rights thinking.
Output
We engage our students and our research to drive positive real-world impact.
Press/Media Appearances
See why The New York Times, NPR and ABC News are just a few of the outlets reaching out to our experts for their insights
Court Cases
A valuable resource hub for information related to our publicized cases — including context, court documents and more
Publications
Setting Institutional Priorities on Climate Reparations & Racial Justice: Learning from Social Movements
Summary List of Election Deniers and Skeptics Elected to Office During the 2022 U.S. Midterms
UC Student Research Team Monitors the 2022 Midterm Elections for Voter Suppression and Misinformation
Environmental Racism & Climate (In)Justice
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SustainableDevelopment Goals and the Fight Against Racial Discrimination
With the Williams Institute: Knowledge Gaps and Research Priorities on LGBTQI+ Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Race, Empire and Human Rights
The Crime of Ecocide Through Human Rights: A New Tool for Climate Justice
Social Media, Content Moderation and International Human Rights Law
Race, Tech and Borders
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