About

• What is the SJSU HRI?

  • The San José State University Human Rights Institute specializes in human rights research, journalism, programming, and policy design. HRI students and faculty study pressing social problems and work with community organizations, stakeholders, and policy makers to inform and design solutions according to relevant scholarship, human rights law, and international best practices. .
    
    

• Who’s behind the SJSU HRI?

  • The HRI is Administered by a Director and Core Team of faculty members selected from the SJSU Human Rights Working Group—the Internal Advisory Board for the Institute consisting of approximately 40 faculty and Center Directors across disciplines on campus who teach or conduct research related to human rights. Most Institute projects result from the collaboration of students, faculty, and community stakeholders. The SJSU HRI is housed in the College of Health and Human Sciences, yet serves the entire university community of students and faculty at SJSU.
    
    

• What does the Institute actually produce?

  • Generally speaking, the SJSU HRI produces scholarly research (books, journal articles, primary data), policy analysis for the public and policy makers, policy design, human rights reporting/journalism, human rights programming for the university and public (Annual Human Rights Lecture Series and Co-Sponsored Programming), and educational opportunities for students (Scholarships, Human Rights Minor Program, FLPs), community members, public agencies, and community organizations.
    
    

• Brief History of the SJSU HRI

  • Following the 2012 launch of the Human Rights Minor Program, HRWG faculty formed a “Human Rights Collective” that would begin building the necessary networks, infrastructure, and body of work to propose and launch a research and policy institute. During this time the Collective of students and faculty built the Annual Human Rights Lecture Series, informed and designed policy at all levels of governance, submitted reports for the international (human rights) Universal Periodic Review process for the U.S., completed numerous reports and forums in partnership with CA Human Rights Commissions, and established partnerships with community organizations and other university programs.

    By late fall 2019 the SJSU HRI was approved by SJSU administration and the CSU as a new Institute. After spending much of spring 2020 building infrastructure, the HRI Core Team and students turned their attention to helping local communities address the overlapping demands of a global health pandemic, economic downturn, and rebellion against racist police violence. Already experienced as a Collective in the areas of criminal justice reform, anti-racism/fascism, and economic reform, the SJSU HRI found its stride, informing all aspects of criminal justice reform in our region. The San José State University Human Rights Institute website launched in June 2020, with 2020-21 slated as the first full academic year of operation.