International Human Rights Clinic
Championing Human Rights in the U.S. and Around the World
Our Mission
Our Mission
Founded in 2014, we are a non-profit, non-partisan, legal clinic dedicated to the protection of human rights in the U.S. and around the world. We advocate in international and domestic tribunals and other forums, provide resources and research on human rights, and engage in public education and outreach on topics including the rule of law, rights of minorities, immigrant rights, human rights defenders, and environmental rights. The International Human Rights Clinic promotes human rights domestically and around the world by providing direct legal representation to clients and organizations in international and domestic forums; documenting human rights violations in the United States and abroad; collaborating with other human rights organizations on cases and projects; and publishing and presenting reports, papers, and other materials related to human rights.
Explore More Download the IHRC Brochure
Explore Our Current Community Work
UIC Law’s International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC) is dedicated to the protection of human rights in the U.S. and around the world. The clinic’s human rights work consists of investigating, reporting, and engaging in advocacy to protect vulnerable communities.
IHRC advocates in international and regional judicial and quasi-judicial bodies such as the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission and Court of Human Rights. It works on human rights projects and cases involving environmental human rights, privacy and human rights, the rights of minorities and communities of color, and immigrants. IHRC also advocates in domestic courts and administrative agencies to represent asylum seekers and immigrants.
special projects
An Update from the IHRC
International human rights work both domestically and internationally has been greatly impacted by the freezing of federal funds. The International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC) is now stepping up to provide more services to ensure that communities and directly impacted communities are able to be protected and have their voices heard.
Comm unity outreach efforts have been impacted by the chilling effect of the current administration’s rhetoric around immigration enforcement. Many community members are now afraid to leave their homes to attend events, especially at locations they believe could be targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to the nature of the programming. Additionally, venues that previously hosted our events pro bono are now hesitant to offer their space, citing concerns about potential ICE enforcement actions.
The IHRC is also engaging in United Nations (U.N.) work to support directly impacted persons from having access to advocacy to vindicate their human rights and access important U.N. mechanisms.
Recent News
UIC Law Faculty Chats
IHRC Clinic Director Discusses Recently Published Article by Latin American Legal Studies
Take a look at this UIC Faculty Chat featuring Sarah Dávila A., International Human Rights Clinic director and professor of law, as she delves into the protection of environmental human rights and discusses her recently published article by Latin American Legal Studies, “Rights of Present and Future Generations to a Healthy Environment: An analysis in Intergenerational Equity and Solidarity in Latin America.”
Discover More View Professor Davila's Scholarship
IHRC Student Publications
Accountability for Climate Change: Leveraging Human Rights Frameworks to Address Global Inequities Caused by Developed Countries
Written By: Kamryn Shives, 3L
“The impact of climate change is disproportionately felt by developing countries who have little control over its contributing factors…”
IHRC Student Publications
The Cost of Progress: The Tension Between Economic Gain and Indigenous Survival
Written By: Elizabeth Arreola & Mariah Khan, 2Ls
“Ecuador’s economic reliance on oil drilling has devastated critical areas of the Amazon rainforest polluting the environment…”
IHRC Student Publications
An Analysis of the Right to Health for Palestinians
Written By: Buthaina Hattab, 2L
“For a Palestinian, human rights violations can begin at birth. Palestinians are sometimes born at an Israeli checkpoint, instead of a hospital, because Israeli soldiers restrict Palestinian mothers…”
