Students relaxing on the lawn next to the Tommie Smith and John Carlos statue.

Help Protect Human Rights

The Human Rights Institute goes beyond the classroom to create change in the community and abroad—whether it is government policies that protect individual rights, published research, or providing a public safe space to engage in meaningful dialogue—your support helps ensure The HRI continues its work to protect Human Rights in our community, state, nation, and world. Every gift, big or small, makes an impact on Human Rights.

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Where Your Valued Support Goes

Dr. Armaline moderating sheriffs debate

Summer Update 2021

Our 2020-21 academic year activities included: The People’s Budget of San José [pdf], co-drafting the San José Re-Imagining Public Safety Community Advisory Committee [RiPS], joining the “Care First Jail Last” coalition, our Annual Human Rights Lecture Series, drafting the California CLEAR Act [pdf] (AB #655), and continued research and achieve universal cannabis record clearance in California (2021-22 AY). Beyond criminal justice reform, the SJSU HRI continues to engage on the local and national issues of housing/homelessness (Social Housing panel), COVID-19, and the 2021 Silicon Valley Pain Index [pdf].

Dr. Angela Davis smiling behind a podium.

Human Rights Lecture Series

The Human Rights Lecture Series is an annual, incredibly popular (always sells out!) event featuring a keynote speaker and the most cutting edge organizers around the country on a particular human rights issue or struggle. The Lecture Series is a point of pride for our faculty and students, also providing cutting edge programming for our local communities.

NAACP Die In Protest at San Jose City Hall

Policy and Praxis

A central goal of the SJSU HRI is to demonstrate the potential for critical scholarship and human rights frameworks to address the many challenges that confront our local and global communities. The HRI creates and engages policy at the local, state, and federal level, working with stakeholders and policy makers to craft effective policy solutions.

Two students conducting research

Research

The SJSU HRI produces groundbreaking student and faculty research to inform public policy and contribute to the broader academic field of Human Rights.

Students speaking in front of the camera for the media.

Human Rights News Network

The emergent Human Rights News Network (coming soon!) will develop original news content in the form of articles, photos, videos, and documentaries about local, national, and international human rights issues. The HRNN will feature student and faculty reporting as well as cutting edge human rights journalism from our various national and international partners.

A crowd of students sit and listen during constitution day.

Programs and Scholarships

In partnership with the SJSU Human Rights Minor Program, students gain access to a wealth of applied and scholarly experience in human rights law, philosophy, advocacy, policy design, and reporting. In addition, the SJSU HRI is now building a scholarship program for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as research grants for faculty. We will be happy to offer our first graduate scholarship in the 20-21 AY.