International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School

What International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School does

The International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC) at Harvard Law School is a clinical legal education program founded in 2004 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that combines hands-on human rights advocacy with experiential training for JD and LLM students. The clinic operates with a core team of approximately six clinical practitioners (plus program and communications staff, totaling roughly 10 personnel) drawn from leading organizations including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, International Crisis Group, Privacy International, the International Center for Transitional Justice, the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, and the United Nations. Susan Farbstein has directed the clinic since 2008. The clinic's work is organized across six thematic areas: Accountability & Remedies, Armed Conflict & Civilian Protection, Climate Justice & the Environment, Gender/Race & Non-Discrimination, Protecting Fundamental Freedoms, and Social & Economic Justice. Advocacy methods include domestic and international litigation, UN complaints and treaty-body engagement, fact-finding and documentation, report-writing, and out-of-court advocacy.

The clinic operates as an integral program of Harvard Law School (legally, The President and Fellows of Harvard College), with no independent ownership structure, no funding rounds, and no external investors. Its funding flows through Harvard Law School's operating budget as part of Harvard University's academic mission. There is no commercial revenue model; the clinic does not charge tuition for its clinical program (students enroll through Harvard's Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs) and does not bill partner organizations. Its principal 'products' are clinical seminars, immersive project work, and a steady stream of publications including white papers, policy briefs, and practitioner guides. Notable recent outputs include the 'Intent to Destroy' white paper on Russia's campaign against Ukraine (February 2026), a campaigner's guide on humanitarian disarmament (May 2026), and a UN Special Rapporteur submission on São Paulo street vendors (May 2026). The clinic maintains a 20+ year alumni network and an affiliated student organization, HLS Advocates for Human Rights, with approximately 70 members. Landmark case outcomes include a $10 million damages award in Mamani v. Sanchez de Lozada, a settlement in Wiwa v. Shell, and an instrumental advisory role to ICAN's 2017 Nobel Peace Prize-winning Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons campaign.

Name

International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School

Legal name

The President and Fellows of Harvard College

Website

https://humanrightsclinic.law.harvard.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School is a clinical legal education program that trains JD and LLM students through hands-on human rights advocacy in partnership with NGOs, international bodies, and affected communities across six thematic areas globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational services: As a clinic within Harvard Law School, IHRC provides experiential learning to law students. Students enroll through the Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs. There is no traditional revenue model as this is an academic program.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The International Human Rights Clinic is a clinical legal education program at Harvard Law School that trains JD and LLM students in human rights advocacy through immersive, supervised projects. Working in partnership with international and grassroots NGOs, UN bodies, and affected communities, the clinic delivers real-world outputs including litigation, UN submissions and complaints, fact-finding, and policy reports across six areas: Accountability & Remedies, Armed Conflict & Civilian Protection, Climate Justice & the Environment, Gender/Race/Non-Discrimination, Protecting Fundamental Freedoms, and Social & Economic Justice.

Product overview

The International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School is a clinical legal education program that trains the next generation of human rights advocates. The IHRC offers law students immersive projects, clinical seminars, and mentorship opportunities, working in partnership with international organizations, NGOs, and affected communities globally. The Clinic operates across six broad areas: Accountability & Remedies, Armed Conflict & Civilian Protection, Climate Justice & the Environment, Gender, Race & Non-Discrimination, Protecting Fundamental Freedoms, and Social & Economic Justice. Key offerings include the core clinical program, clinical seminars, the Armed Conflict and Civilian Protection Initiative (ACCPI), and various publications including humanitarian disarmament guides, white papers, and policy briefs. The Clinic also supports HLS Advocates for Human Rights, a student organization with approximately 70 members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Armed Conflict and Civilian Protection Initiative (ACCPI): Initiative focused on improving protections for civilians affected by armed conflict through field research, norm building, and treaty negotiation.

Products and services

• Clinical Seminars Classroom courses paired with the IHRC clinical program that provide students with knowledge of human rights field strategies and methods through case studies, simulations, and practitioner interactions. Targeted at Harvard Law School JD and LLM students enrolled in the IHRC.
• International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC) Core Clinical Program A clinical legal education program at Harvard Law School that trains JD and LLM law students in human rights advocacy through immersive supervised projects, mentorship, and real-world casework in partnership with international NGOs, UN bodies, and affected communities. Designed for Harvard Law School students seeking hands-on human rights practice experience.
• Armed Conflict and Civilian Protection Initiative (ACCPI) A specialized initiative within IHRC focused on improving protections for civilians affected by armed conflict through field research, norm building, and treaty negotiation and implementation. Works with partners including Human Rights Watch and ICAN.
• HLS Advocates for Human Rights A student practice organization under IHRC's umbrella with approximately 70 student members, working in collaboration with partner organizations on human rights advocacy under clinic supervision.

Quantifiable outcome

• $10 million in damages awarded to clients in Mamani v. Sanchez de Lozada case
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PAX (Netherlands)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Field research partnership in Ukraine. Student team went to eastern Ukraine with PAX to document effects of bombing and shelling on healthcare facilities.
• Human Rights WatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership on armed conflict and civilian protection issues. Bonnie Docherty serves as both IHRC lecturer and Senior Arms Advisor at Human Rights Watch. Co-published numerous reports on explosive weapons, autonomous weapons systems, incendiary weapons, and nuclear weapons. Joint advocacy on Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and explosive weapons political declaration.
• Amnesty InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Torture-Free Trade Treaty campaign. IHRC working with Amnesty International, Center for Victims of Torture, and Omega Research Foundation to create a global treaty delegitimizing trade in law enforcement equipment used for torture.
• International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHRC provided legal advice to ICAN during Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons negotiations. ICAN received 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. Continued collaboration on implementation of TPNW.
• Control ArmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to advance compliance with Arms Trade Treaty obligations, particularly regarding gender-based violence risk assessments. Multi-day trainings of government officials and impactful guidance publications.
• Stimson CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication providing guidance on arms exports and preventing gender-based violence. Collaboration on practical tools to strengthen export licensing risk assessments.
• Norwegian Refugee CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership promoting rights of Syrian refugees in Jordan and camp-based refugees in Kenya. Work on documentation rights, freedom of movement, and business documentation.
• All Survivors ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on developing Principles on the Prevention of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Detention Settings. Joint advocacy and shadow reports to UN bodies.
• International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Ukraine accountability work. Joint white paper 'Intent to Destroy: Confronting Russia's Campaign to Erase Ukraine and Its People' released February 2026. Collaboration on ICJ genocide case briefings.
• New Lines Institute for Strategy and PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-release of white paper on Russia's genocidal war in Ukraine. Partnership on legal, political, and security strategies to stop atrocities.
• Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and SecurityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in November 2025 conference 'Intent to Destroy' and subsequent white paper on Russia's campaign against Ukraine.
• Atlantic Council's Strategic Litigation ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in conference and white paper on confronting Russia's genocidal war in Ukraine.
• Truth HoundscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Ukraine accountability. Joint briefing paper on Russia's weaponization of counter-claims in Ukraine v. Russia ICJ genocide proceedings.
• Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership on Haiti accountability work. Beatrice Lindstrom was Legal Director before joining IHRC. Collaboration on cholera accountability, gang massacre investigations, and UN accountability.
• Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaniel Levine-Spound was Program Fellow at CIVIC before joining IHRC. Collaboration on peacekeeping and civilian protection research.
• Privacy InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnna Crowe was Legal Officer at Privacy International before joining IHRC. Collaboration on surveillance and privacy rights work.
• International Center for Transitional JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as part of IHRC team's prior professional experience. Susan Farbstein worked at ICTJ Cape Town office before joining Harvard.
• Omega Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Torture-Free Trade Treaty. Co-publishing guidance on essential elements of treaty to delegitimize trade in equipment used for torture.
• Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint report 'When the Water Runs Dry: Human Rights, Climate Change & Deepening Water Inequality in Delhi, India' published September 2023.
• Equality Collective (South Africa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on socio-economic rights in South Africa. Creating community monitoring, reporting, and management system for access to water in Amathole.
• Equal Education Law Centre (South Africa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on right to education in South Africa. Cases and campaigns related to school infrastructure, scholar transport, and nutrition program.
• Bloom AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on seafood supply chain accountability. Joint report 'Canned Brutality: Human Rights Abuses in the Tuna Industry' published May 2023.
• Guerreras en Busca de Nuevos Tesoros (Mexico)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with families seeking truth and accountability for enforced disappearances in Nayarit, Mexico.
• Addameer (Palestinian Territory)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint submission to UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.
• Opre Roma KosovocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on advocacy for Roma communities who suffered lead poisoning in UN-managed displacement camps after Kosovo war.
• Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (Haiti)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Haiti accountability, including cholera case litigation (Georges v. United Nations).
• International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored paper with FIDH on evidentiary challenges in enforced disappearances cases, presented at UN Treaty Bodies symposium.
• Conflict and Environment ObservatorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published major reports on principles for assisting victims and remediating environment in context of Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
• Centro Gaspar Garcia de Direitos Humanos (Brazil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for street vendor rights work in São Paulo.
• Coalizão Negra por Direitos (Brazil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for street vendor rights work in São Paulo.
• Conectas Direitos Humanos (Brazil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for street vendor rights work in São Paulo.
• StreetNet InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for street vendor rights work in São Paulo.
• Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for street vendor rights work in São Paulo. Also partner on informal economy workers' rights globally.
• Takla Lake First Nation (Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership investigating mining effects on British Columbia First Nations. In-depth report documented environmental effects and inadequate consultation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NYU Center for Human Rights and Global Justice: Clinical human rights program at NYU School of Law that combines student training with impact litigation, UN advocacy, and fact-finding on accountability, refugee rights, and socio-economic rights. The most directly comparable U.S. law school human rights clinic in mission, structure, and methodology.
• Yale Law School Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic: Yale Law School's human rights clinic provides JD/LLM students with hands-on casework and partners with NGOs on accountability, refugee, and economic/social rights litigation. Direct peer in clinical education model and substantive human rights portfolio.
• Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute: Columbia Law School institute combining human rights clinic, research, and policy work, with student participation in litigation, documentation, and UN advocacy. Closely comparable in housing human rights practice within an elite U.S. law school.
• Stanford Law School International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic: Stanford Law School clinic engaging students in international human rights and conflict resolution casework, including accountability, asylum, and international criminal law matters. Comparable in clinical training model and elite-institution setting.
• Cornell Law School Avon Global Center for Women and Justice: Cornell Law School clinical center focused on gender-based violence, human rights of women and girls, and accountability for sexual violence in conflict and peace. Comparable as a U.S. law school clinical program with NGO and global court engagement.
• University of Chicago Law School Global Human Rights Clinic: University of Chicago Law School clinic in which students work on human rights litigation, documentation, and advocacy projects in collaboration with international partners. Direct peer in clinical education model and impact-oriented case selection.
• Fordham Law School Leitner Center for International Law and Justice: Fordham Law clinical center engaging students in international human rights, refugee, and social justice advocacy projects with NGO and UN partners. Comparable as a clinical training program with substantive human rights practice areas.
• UC Berkeley Law International Human Rights Law Clinic: Berkeley Law clinic providing students with hands-on experience in international human rights litigation, documentation, and advocacy with civil society partners. Direct peer in clinical education and human rights advocacy methodology.

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Watch: Large international human rights NGO conducting research, advocacy, and litigation on global human rights issues. Bonnie Docherty simultaneously serves as IHRC clinician and Senior Arms Advisor at HRW, evidencing deep operational overlap; HRW is a partner and co-publisher on multiple IHRC matters.
• Amnesty International: Global human rights NGO with research, advocacy, and litigation functions that overlaps substantively with IHRC's areas of work. IHRC has co-developed projects with Amnesty on the Torture-Free Trade Treaty and refugee rights; multiple IHRC clinicians previously worked at Amnesty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ihrc-hls
• Instagraminstagram.com/humanrightsharvardlaw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School