Human Rights Institute

The Human Rights Institute promotes excellence and innovation in faculty research across disciplines and develops high-impact student engagement in human rights issues.

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The Binghamton University Human Rights Institute (HRI) advances research, teaching and community engagement in human rights. We bring a transdisciplinary human rights perspective to important social problems and contribute to evidence-based policymaking as well as critical discourses in human rights. Drawing upon Binghamton University's research excellence and New York state's rich history advocating and advancing human rights, the HRI develops initiatives with rights-based perspectives to impact public policy in New York state, the United States and internationally. We welcome new affiliates.

HRI's response to the protests following the murder of George Floyd: The Human Rights Institute stands in solidarity with peaceful protesters responding to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many others and with those seeking to address racism on our campus. HRI joined more than 600 organizations from 61 countries in submiting a Request for Convening a Special Sesssion of the UN Human Rights Council on the Escalating Situation of Police Violence and Repression in the United States. You can read the full letter, endorsed by the families of Michael Brown, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, here. In response to this request, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) held an Urgent Debate on June 17, 2020. There is now a campaign underway in support of a resolution and commission of inquiry sponsored by the HRC on systemic racism, police brutality, and violence against peaceful protesters. ********** The Human Rights Institute has ongoing projects to address intersections of human rights, racist violence, and racial justice: 1) reading group on the colonial and racist history of international human rights law; 2) working group on race and policing; and 3) research group, in partnership with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the Citizenship, Rights and Cultural Belonging TAE, on feminist and anti-racist responses to COVID-19. To join any of these groups, or for more information, please email amoore@binghamton.edu.

HRI in the News! Check out this recent story in BingUNews about three students' work at a Refugee Family Reunification Clinic in Britain last summer: Students Work to Reunite Refugees with Families. Congratulations to Rachel DiSibio, Lizzie Nutig and Daniel Singh Guzman on their outstanding work.