About Us
Part of the School of Advanced Study at the University of London, the Institute sits at the crossroads of research, policy, human rights practice and international relations.
Vision
Our vision is that people around the world, including throughout the modern Commonwealth, live in societies grounded in democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The Institute works towards this vision by:
- developing effective, evidence-based policy solutions to the challenges facing the modern Commonwealth;
- supporting the modern Commonwealth’s global network of civil society;
- engaging with Commonwealth stakeholders, including its Member States; and
- offering ground-breaking MA and PhD programmes in human rights.
The Institute strives to achieve its mission through a culture of integrity, professionalism, inclusion, diversity, innovation and collaboration.
Primary areas of focus
We have three primary areas of focus:
- The Rule of Law;
- Climate Change;
- Media Freedom and Digital Rights.
Library
The Institute’s Library is an international resource with particularly impressive Caribbean, Southern African and Australian holdings with over 190,000 volumes and 230 archival collections including resources on Nelson Mandela and the Ruth First papers.
Human rights education
The Institute is home to the longest-running interdisciplinary and practice-orientated human rights MA programmes in the UK, on campus and by distance learning. The cutting-edge content looks at human rights issues from a practical perspective as well as a theoretical and legal one. With a campus-based programme in London and a distance learning option, there are over 850 alumni around the world who work for human rights NGOs, humanitarian organisations, in academia, national governments, businesses, and UN agencies. The Institute also offers a Postgraduate Certificate in Human Rights, a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Rights and MPhil/PhD in Human Rights, including by distance learning.
