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Institute for Human Rights College of Arts and Sciences

Institute for Human Rights

Welcome to the Institute for Human Rights

Almost 80 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a gap continues to exist between the rights conferred and the daily realities for many people around the world. More people than ever are forcibly displaced, face discrimination and unequal access to goods and services, and suffer from the consequences of poverty and war. Human rights violations are widespread across the globe.

At the UAB Institute for Human Rights (IHR), we are dedicated to advancing the protection, understanding, and promotion of human rights on a global scale. As a dynamic center for education, research, and advocacy, we work collaboratively with scholars, students, and local, national, and global partners to address pressing human rights issues, foster inclusive dialogue, and empower communities. This includes engaging in community-driven research and outreach that addresses both civil and political rights, as well as economic, social, and cultural rights. By examining grassroots and social movement approaches, IHR aims to strengthen the understanding and implementation of human rights for all. Through interdisciplinary study, service, and innovative solutions, we aim to create a more just, equitable, and compassionate world for all. Join us in our commitment to human dignity and social justice.

Education

Through its Human Rights Lab and the IHR blog, IHR offers students, faculty, and community members the opportunity to learn about human rights in both theory and practice. IHR is also affiliated with the human rights major and minor and the M.A. in the Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights.

Academic Programs

Research

IHR’s research highlights the intersection of human rights with many grand challenges that impact our society today. IHR’s Research Working Groups focus on:

  • Human Rights and Health
  • Human Rights and Methods
  • Human Rights and Technology
  • Human Rights and Society

In addition, IHR offers training for faculty and researchers on grant writing, community-engaged research, and the sociostructural determinants of health.

Research Focus

Outreach

IHR’s Outreach program includes a comprehensive public speakers program, conferences, and workshops on human rights from the local to the international level.

Events

Events