Human Rights Center

Investigating war crimes, pursuing justice, and preparing tomorrow's advocates.

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

We officially launched the #BerkeleyProtocol on Digital Open Source Investigations with @UNHumanRights High Commissioner @volker_turk and launched HRC's 30th Anniversary year! We're deeply grateful for our partnership with UN OHCHR, and look forward to our future collaborations.

[Volker Türk @volker_turk]

As new tech risks new rights abuses, our ability to monitor & defend others' rights is increasingly vital.

I'm proud to work w/ inspiring @BerkeleyLaw students to launch the Berkeley Protocol: a tool to ensure digitally documented evidence can contribute to legal accountability.

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

"Our collection and analysis follow the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations," said said Natacha Bracq of @HindRFoundation, regarding regarding their recent criminal filing in the UK against an Israeli soldier for alleged war crimes:
https://t.co/R0l6Njw1Xu

[ProDESC @ProDESC]

We were very glad to have Sam Klein-Markman, a student at @hrcberkeley, join #ProDESC. During his time with us, he supported territorial defense efforts led by Indigenous communities and ejidos, including work alongside the Mapuche-Williche communities in Chile in their efforts to hold Statkraft accountable.

Thank you, Sam, for sharing your work and your commitment to human rights!✊🏽
Read the full story here ⬇️

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

4/4 ⛰️ Sam Klein-Markman worked with @ProDESC to help communities in Chile & Mexico challenge harmful development projects—including a hydropower dam on sacred Mapuche land.

Read the full story here!
https://t.co/8Er3JeJSo3

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

1/4 🧵 This summer, three @BerkeleyLaw students took human rights work from the classroom directly into the field as HRC student fellows! Here’s a look at how they helped protect vulnerable communities worldwide.
https://t.co/8Er3JeJSo3

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

3/4 🗺️ Kate Reeves supported Indigenous communities in the Amazon using drones and digital mapping to track illegal mining and deforestation alongside FENAMAD.

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

"Climate-induced migration and displacement are not yet systematically integrated into state and regional adaptation planning," @betsy_popken told @politico. Check out the Q+A on climate displacement and migration. @Cal_LCI @oandbinstitute:
https://t.co/eZGQpD4D3x

[UC Berkeley Law @BerkeleyLaw]

Three Berkeley Law students — 2L Sonali Dhawan, 2L Kate Reeves, and 3L Sam Klein-Markman — are among this year’s @hrcberkeley fellows. They recently gave powerful presentations about their recent fieldwork: https://t.co/1yiJZBjHUJ #BerkeleyLaw

[Double Exposure Investigative Film Festival+Forum @DX_IFF]

Join us Nov. 7 for a VISUAL INVESTIGATION BREAKDOWN WORKSHOP ~ https://t.co/aldtZ0P1b3

w/ @zachtoombs of Evident Media & @schellgcn of @hrcberkeley and @UCBerkeleyIRP, on how they revealed dangers of ‘less-lethal’ weaponry

#Policing #PoliceBrutality #PoliceAccountability

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

Ep. 1 of “Ten Years of HRC’s Investigations Lab” is out now! Here's @noahbullock of @Cristosal on how #OSINT can accelerate the documentation of persecution of human rights defenders in El Salvador.
🔗 https://t.co/6sGjGXacMI
Stay tuned for Ep. 2 on investigating climate!

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

On Oct. 26, we're hosting "Inside China's Secret Prisons," a book talk w/Orville Schell & Adam Hochschild on China's prison camps, their Soviet roots & threats to journalists who investigate them.
📅 10/26
⌚️ 5:30 PM
📍Booth Auditorium @BerkeleyLaw
🔗 https://t.co/mjBEi4XnLI

[Gisela Pérez de Acha @giselilla]

Thanks to @aschell, @LpgMont, @KathleenQuinn & @CiceroPedrosa for all the hard work on this one.

And to the @UCBerkeleyIRP, @hrcberkeley & the @Rainforest_RIN for the support

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

5/5 The case raises a question for the energy transition: whose land rights are secured before “clean” fuel plantations expand? Read in @guardian by HRC current + former staff/students @giselilla, Sasha Schell, @LpgMont + @KathleenQuinn, & Cícero Pedrosa: https://t.co/Xg08NjhLGn

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

4/5 The fight is far from won. Communities still lack formal land titles, and the Pastoral Land Commission has recorded at least four deaths, attempted murders and 14 death threats in the region. Many fear the presidential runoff could make securing their rights harder.

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

3/5 Quilombolas are pushing back with blockades and legal action. About 2,300 people now control nearly 32,400 hectares formerly farmed by Brasil BioFuels, and courts have rejected most of its land claims. The company denies stealing land.

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

1/5 Who pays the price for “clean” fuel? In Brazil’s Amazon, the palm oil biofuel boom has collided with quilombola communities who say the land is theirs. After decades of displacement, they’re fighting back. 🧵@guardian:
https://t.co/Xg08NjhLGn

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

2/5 In Pará, Brazil’s most deforested state, about 202,000 hectares produce palm oil for biofuels and food. Communities describe fences, guard towers and checkpoints, some blocking access to family cemeteries. One company filed 1,000+ police reports against residents.

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

4/4 Together, we can build a safer California for residents and the environment. Read the full report published as part of California’s 5th Climate Change Assessment!
🔗 https://t.co/jVEBzZyuYg

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

1/4 Extreme heat, wildfires, sea level rise & flooding are driving human displacement across California right now. A new report co-published by HRC & @oandbinstitute for @Cal_LCI breaks down what's happening and how to fix it:
https://t.co/jVEBzZyuYg

[Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley]

3/4 Our research points to these recommendations:
🏡 Protect renters & vulnerable residents
💰 State-level emergency relief
🌉 Community-driven relocation planning
🫂 Empower Tribes & CBOs
🌐 Better infrastructure & tracking during disaster