The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees on June 13 approved a proposal by the University of Alabama at Birmingham to establish the UAB Institute for Human Rights.

The Institute for Human Rights will employ innovative technologies and scientific methods to integrate existing UAB and community strengths to create and foster new research, policy solutions, outreach activities and educational programming relating to all aspects of human rights, including training programs in such areas as diversity awareness, sexual harassment prevention and effective communication in the workplace to business, industry and government entities.

“This will become an internationally recognized institute that promotes and seeks to protect human rights from the local to the international level,” said Provost Linda Lucas. “The Institute will explore several areas of human and civil rights, including history, justice, public health, the environment and education.”