Practice
As one of the oldest, most experienced and well respected academic human rights centres
in the world, awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in February 2010 in recognition of our
work in advancing human rights across the globe, we maintain close links with the United Nations
Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and international and national NGOs. Our Centre
also has special interests in Europe, including the institutions of the OSCE, the Council of Europe
and the European Union, and the Commonwealth.
What does this mean for me?
As a student within our Human Rights Centre, you will be taught, supported and supervised by
our staff who are respected and professional world leaders and experts in the field of human rights.
Members of our Centre undertake missions, litigate cases under the European Convention on
Human Rights, research and write reports, and assist in training programmes for a variety of
international bodies. They have held senior appointments at the United Nations and work for human
rights international non-governmental organisations, including Amnesty International, Article 19,
the International League for Human Rights and Human Rights Watch, as well as numerous national NGOs.
Our Centre provides specialist human rights modules for lawyers and organisations, and has
developed human rights libraries for the United States. We also established a human rights summer
school, aimed primarily at school teachers, in conjunction with The Citizenship Foundation and the
UK Human Rights Education Network.
Brochure
How can I get further involved?
In 2009, we established our Human Rights Centre Clinic,
with support from our School of Law, as a vehicle to provide students and academics
with structured clinical experience and an ongoing institutional mechanism for the
promotion and protection of human rights.
The Clinic promotes human rights in the UK and abroad, and
trains you to gain and develop transferable employability skills.
Consultancies
Our Centre provides advice and consultancy services to numerous domestic and international governmental agencies, as well as non-governmental organisations like the International Committee of the Red Cross and Amnesty International.
Litigation
Our Centre members have litigated a number of notable cases under the European Convention on Human Rights and undertaken
litigation in UK courts, including the House of Lords. This reflects our international standing both within academia and within
the global human rights community.
Advocacy and training
Our Advocacy, Training and Education Programme provides a
structure for work in litigation and legal advocacy, human rights training and education. This builds on the experience of our members who
occupy prominent positions within the UN human rights system.
HRC Clinic
Our Human Rights Centre Clinic, established in 2009 with our School of Law, promotes human rights and
trains you to develop transferable employability skills that you can make good use of upon graduation.