promoting innovative ideas and practices.
The Center for Human Rights and Global Justice is a leading action-research hub that contributes to the global human rights project through scholarship, education, field building, advocacy, and legal practice. Across a wide range of issue areas and projects, we collaborate closely with partners from diverse geographies and disciplines on the new ideas, practices, and strategies that are needed to address existential challenges to human rights and global justice.
reimagining human rights for the twenty-first century.
We nurture ideas, actions, and connections that promote rights-based solutions to ecological emergencies, technological disruptions, deepening inequalities, threats to democracy and peace, and other urgent challenges to global governance and justice. We pursue initiatives that expand and catalyze the collective capacity of the human rights field. We deepen collaborations among communities of thought and practice from around the world, train future human rights thinkers and doers, and disseminate promising approaches to global justice research and advocacy.
staying current.
Highlights
2026 Eleanor Roosevelt Prize for Global Human Rights Advancement
Human Rights Movement
The American Bar Association Center for Human Rights awarded the 2026 Eleanor Roosevelt Prize for Global Human Rights Advancement to Margaret L. Satterthwaite.
Press
Giving AI rights could lead to catastrophic outcomes
Climate & Environment
César Rodríguez-Garavito, chair of the Center and director of COMPASS, reflects on recognizing the rights of nature and warns of the dangers of granting rights to artificial intelligence.
Event
AI Rights and Wrongs: Law, Power, and Accountability
Technology & Human Rights
On October 23, the COMPASS program will host its inaugural conference, an all-day event bringing together leading scholars and practitioners from around the world to discuss the legal and policy choices we must make today to ensure AI serves the rights and well-being of people and the natural world. Don’t miss thematic panels addressing key issues in AI law and governance.
Resources
Reparations Primer: What is Haiti Owed?
Human Rights Movement
This primer by the Global Justice Clinic explores Haiti’s case for reparations and shares information on reparations intended to inform and inspire advocates and movements in Haiti and beyond.
Press
Using AI to ‘talk to animals’ might make us feel clever – but what, if anything, does it do for them
Climate & Environment
In this article, César Rodríguez-Garavito discusses AI’s potential to help us understand animals and the ethical safeguards needed to protect them.
Press
How a Groundbreaking Indigenous Treaty on Whales’ Rights Could Change National Laws
Climate & Environment
A declaration recognizing whales as legal rights-holders is influencing legislation in New Zealand and sparking an international push to translate Indigenous customs into binding protections.
learn, connect, or contribute.
Explore our platform to find resources, stay informed about events, connect with like-minded individuals and organizations, and discover how you can play a role in shaping the future of human rights and global justice.
