The Essex website uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are consenting to their use. Please visit our cookie policy to find out which cookies we use and why. View cookie policy.

University of Essex homepage Centres and Institutes Human Rights Human Rights Centre Clinic
Human Rights Centre

Human Rights Centre Clinic

Back view of woman holdng peace banner over her shoulders

Protecting human rights around the world

The Human Rights Centre Clinic is part of one of the oldest academic Human Rights Centres in the world, and continues to conduct key research to protect human rights globally.

Founded in 2009, the Human Rights Centre Clinic runs projects that enable students to apply their human rights knowledge to practical situations and further develop their professional skills, working in partnership with civil society organisations, international organisations, governments and national human rights institutions.

There are two opportunities open for students to participate in - module-based projects and multi-year projects. Module-based projects change annually, and current partners include Amnesty International, the Global Survivors Fund and Survival International. Multi-year projects mark an ongoing partnership with an organisation - namely, the UN Working Group of Arbitrary Detention through the Arbitrary Detention Redress Unit (ADRU).

The Clinic also runs a specialised Human Rights Centre Clinic Module focused on the practice of human rights advocacy, providing students with the skillset necessary to work as human rights professionals. By combining this module with the Clinic, students are provided with the opportunity both to learn about human rights protection mechanisms and to apply this knowledge through actual engagement with national and international stakeholders in the human rights sector, including NGOs and international organisations.

Learn more about the types of projects the Clinic undertakes, or if you're an organisation interested in being involved with the Human Rights Centre Clinic, you can find out how to become a partner.

HRC Clinic on social:

Browse our degrees

What sort of projects does the Clinic undertake?

Our annual projects address various types of human rights and humanitarian law-related issues. They generally involve research that partners need in order to further human rights advocacy and/or implementation of human rights or humanitarian law norms.

They're grounded in international human rights or humanitarian law. Some projects are interdisciplinary in their approach, and projects employ a variety of research methods. In selecting projects and partners, we ensure that in any academic year, there are projects focusing on a range of regions and human rights issues.

The projects may support litigation, advocacy, policy and programme development or technical guidance on human rights for civil society organisations, national human rights institutions, governments, UN human rights bodies and international organisations.

Current and recent international partners include Dejusticia, Minority Rights Group, Amnesty International, and WHO. Current and recent national partners include the Philippines Human Rights Commission, and national NGOs in countries including the UK, Morocco, Uganda and the Philippines.

Partners choose to work with the Clinic because at Essex we have gifted human rights students as well as specialised faculty support with the expertise that partners need. See how you can become one of our partners.

Are you a Human Rights student? Find out more information about working in the Human Rights Centre Clinic.

Students’ work supports prisoners facing Death Row

What should courts consider when deciding whether to impose a death sentence? Essex students undertook vital work, piecing together the complex life stories of prisoners facing Death Row.

Read the article
Three smiling students at a gathering
"An invaluable experience in discovering what it means to be in a truly diverse team with the conflicts and opportunity for learning that it can bring. I believe I came out of it a more rounded human rights advocate"
Elizabeth Mangenje LLM INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW: ECONOMICS RELATIONS, 2017
“The students from the Human Rights Centre Clinic of the University of Essex delivered high quality research and analysis that we could utilise in real time advocacy and campaigning work. Two projects (one on policing protest, another one on women’s rights) were developed and delivered in a collaborative and professional manner. Students’ research will help inform and identify areas of focus for delivering effective human rights change in the UK.”
Allan Hogarth Head of Advocacy and Programmes, Amnesty International UK.
Also see
Report of activities 2023-24
Report of activities 2022-23
Report of activities 2021-22

HRC Clinic Team

Dr Sabina Garahan

Dr Sabina Garahan

Director

Human Rights Clinic, University of Essex

Dr Antonio Coco
Dr Antonio Coco

Deputy Director

Human Rights Clinic, University of Essex

Our human rights courses
Study a world-class human rights degree at Essex and become part of the next generation of human rights defenders.
Human Rights Centre in the news
Read the latest news from the Human Rights Centre and learn about how our staff and students are impacting the world we live in with their ongoing contribution to human rights research.
Become a partner of the Human Rights Centre Clinic
The Human Rights Centre Clinic offers pro-bono research to partner organisations. This can be especially useful if a lack of resources does not allow you to conduct a substantial amount of the research.
Also see
Students: Working in the Human Rights Centre Clinic
How to become a partner
A group of protestors holding placards in a public demonstration on the streets of New York.
Get in touch
Human Rights Centre Clinic
WE ARE
ESSEX ARE YOU?
Get a prospectus Get to know Essex
STUDY
Find a course
LIFE
RESEARCH
EXPLORE
CONTACT US
Contact


  • +44 (0) 1206 873333
  • University of Essex
  • Wivenhoe Park
  • Colchester CO4 3SQ

 

 

University of Essex - Where change happens

CONNECT WITH US
© 2024 University of Essex. All rights reserved