Human Rights Institute

The Human Rights Institute serves as the focal point for human rights activities at Georgetown Law, and, in so doing, promotes Georgetown Law's role as a key actor in the human rights community.

Our primary aim is to support the vibrant human
rights community on campus and to develop opportunities for those Georgetown Law students who aim to become human rights practitioners. Our Associates Program offers students the chance to get involved in human rights work beginning in their first year of law school, and introduces them to leading actors in this field. Our Fact-Finding Project allows students to work as human rights investigators by guiding them through every step of an in-depth field research project, from project design to interviewing to report writing and finally to federal-level advocacy. Our on-campus events provide an opportunity for students to learn about cutting-edge human rights issues, and to meet the experts involved in this exciting field. Finally, the Human Rights Institute Director and Post-Graduate Fellow regularly meet with students to provide one-on-one curricular and professional advising.

The Human Rights Institute also aims to serve as a resource to the many Washington D.C.-based organizations and government bodies engaged in human rights work. Each year, we host numerous high-level conferences, panel discussions, expert roundtables, and other events that serve to promote discussion, debate, and collaboration among those working in this field. We also regularly support these groups' work by matching them with top-quality Georgetown Law interns and externs.

To get announcements about the Human Rights Institute's work and updates on current events in human rights, follow us on Twitter at HRI_GtownLaw. And for a more in-depth analysis of human rights issues, check out our students' blog, 1948: A Rights Forum.