Global Human Rights Clinic

Feminist Foreign Policy Fail? Assessing Canada’s Human Rights Obligations in Gaza

A submission jointly prepared by the International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and the Global Human Rights Clinic, finds that Canadian arms exports and tax subsidies to charitable organizations aiding the Israeli Defense Forces are contributing to devastation of the healthcare system, with particular effects on women and children.

read Submission to United Nations Committee
“All I Want Is To Be Free”

Situation Report and Recommendations to Protect the Human Rights of Stateless People in U.S. Immigration Detention and Supervision

read the report on Stateless People

The Global Human Rights Clinic (GHRC) works alongside partners and communities to advance justice and address the inequalities and structural disparities that lead to human rights violations worldwide. The GHRC uses diverse tactics and interdisciplinary methods to tackle pressing and under-addressed human rights issues. The GHRC is constantly advancing the dual aims of advocating for important change around the world, and training the next generation of effective, ethical, creative lawyers. As part of this we seek to innovate and think not just about what the human rights field is, but what it could be and what it should be. The work of the GHRC varies but includes investigating and advancing accountability for mass atrocities and armed conflict, addressing the impacts of colonialism, advocating for equality and non-discrimination, and advancing socio-economic rights.

Student Experience

Students join a community of advocates seeking to promote respect for human rights and advance justice. Through a combination of projects and classroom components, students have an opportunity to put human rights law into practice. Students work in teams supporting impacted communities around the world to carry out cutting-edge human rights investigations, document and analyze violations, and carry out advocacy at local, national, regional and international levels.

About the student experience
Human Rights Research and Advocacy

The clinic uses an interdisciplinary model to serve impacted communities around the world, working with grassroots organizations, NGOs, scientific organizations, medical schools, law school clinics, courts, and others. Projects include investigating mass atrocities and unlawful killings, addressing the impacts of colonialism, advancing climate justice, supporting families of missing migrants, advocating for equality and non-discrimination, and advancing socio-economic rights.

clinic projects

Incarcerated workers generate billions of dollars worth of goods and services annually but are paid pennies per hour without proper training or opportunity to build skills for careers after release, according to a comprehensive nationwide report released today by the Law School’s Global Human Rights Clinic and the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Global Human Rights Clinic (GHRC) students continue to advance justice and address the inequalities and structural disparities that lead to human rights violations worldwide using diverse tactics and interdisciplinary tools.

Publications

Reports, briefs, presentations, and more.

View Publications

Anjli Parrin

Assistant Clinical Professor of Law, Director of the Global Human Rights Clinic

Madison Wilson

Legal Assistant

In addition to the Clinic, the Law School offers a number of other opportunities for students interested in international human rights:

  • JD International Human Rights Summer Internship Program. Students participating in the GHRC work abroad during the summer at international NGOs on human rights and other public interest law related issues and are eligible for guaranteed public interest funding.
  • International Immersion Program. Students in the immersion program have an opportunity to travel on a short term study trip to a foreign country during their breaks and learn about international and comparative law through seminars with legal scholars, meetings with professionals at law firms, businesses, international organizations, government institutions, and exchanges with alumni and local law students.
  • Human Rights Law Society. HRLS is a student organization dedicated to learning about and practicing international human rights law.