The Human Rights Institute's fact-finding project allows students an opportunity to work as human rights investigators—researching a human rights problem in depth, conducting extensive interviews on the subject, drafting a comprehensive report on their findings, and engaging in related advocacy.

Student participants enroll in a full-year, five credit practicum. In the fall semester the class covers the substantive law and policy, as well as fact-finding skills and methodology. In January, during Georgetown Law's "Week One," the class travels either internationally or domestically to conduct extensive interviews with those affected by and knowledgeable about the issue. In the spring semester, students draft a comprehensive report that lays out their findings and recommendations, which is published by the Human Rights Institute. They then engage in extensive federal-level advocacy with government decision-makers to lobby for change.

Apply by May 20, 2013 to enroll in the 2013-2014 Fact-Finding Practicum!

Human Rights Action-Amnesty International's Fact-Finding Committee, after close consultation with the Human Rights Institute, selected "The Toll of Statelessness" as the topic for next year's fact-finding practicum. The full course description is available here. To apply for this class, please send a statement of interest and resume to Professor Rachel Taylor (rst@law.georgetown.edu) by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, May 20, 2013. Admitted students will be informed by early June.

This class meets every Friday from 11:10-1:10 in the fall, and every other Friday from 10:10-1:10 in the spring. Participants will travel during Week One 2014 to a location agreed upon by the students and professor early in the fall semester.

Our 2012-2013 project examined the Human Right to Water in Marginalized Communities, and advocacy efforts are still underway. For more information, please see our project page.

Past Projects

2012

Our 2011-2012 project was called Kept Out: Barriers to Meaningful Education in the School-to-Prison Pipeline. More information can be found on the project's page.

2011

Sent "Home" With Nothing: The Deportation of Jamacians with Mental Disabilities

Researchers visited Jamaica in January 2011 and conducted more than 50 interviews with deported persons, mental health professionals, civil society representatives, and government officials. The report is available here. You can also watch the webcast of the report launch, view the corresponding PowerPoint presentation, and read answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the project.

2010

A Prescription for Failure: Health and Intellectual Property in the Dominican Republic

Researchers visited the Dominican Republic in January 2010 and conducted more than 50 interviews with patients, healthcare providers, government officials, members of non-governmental organizations, representatives from multinational and domestic pharmaceutical industries, trade negotiators, lawyers, and others. The report is available here. You can also watch a webcast of the students' report launch, and read answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the project.

Refugee Crisis in America: Iraqis and Their Resettlement Experience

Through this project, researchers conducted extensive interviews with refugees, policy makers, state refugee coordinators, and NGOs in Washington D.C., Detroit, San Diego, and Amman, Jordan. The report examines and assesses the United States' policies, practices, and legal framework with regard to the resettlement of Iraqi refugees.  The report is available here. You can also watch a webcast of the students' report launch.

2008

Moving forward: Recomendations on U.S. HIV Immigration Policy (Haiti)

Through this project, students traveled to Haiti to document the experiences of HIV-positive spouses, children, parents, and siblings of U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) affected by the "HIV bar." The report is available here.

2007

Between The Border and The Street: Migrant Youth on Margins. A Comparative Look at Gang Reduction Policies and Migration in the U.S. and Guatemala.

This report examines the rise of gangs in Guatemala and the United States, compares the anti-gang strategies in each country, discusses the relative successes and failures, and offers recommendations for more sensible, humane, and effective policies to reduce youth violence. The report is available here.

2006

Unintended Consequences: Refugee Victims of the War on Terror (Ecuador)

This report examines the unintended consequences of the material support bar on Colombian refugees. The report is available here.