About

The Pozen Family Center for Human Rights at the University of Chicago supports innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and research initiatives that critically explore the theory and practice of global human rights. 

Our program was founded as the Human Rights Program in 1998. It was renamed the Pozen Family Center for Human Rights in June 2014, in honor of a generous gift from Richard, AB’69 and Ann Pozen and their family. Read the news story. 

Initial funding for the Human Rights Program came from the University and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. 

We support:

Rigorous liberal arts, graduate, and professional school curricula that combine foundational research with practice-oriented training, including a study abroad program in Vienna, Austria; a two-quarter Civilizations Core sequence; and a Minor in the College. Read more about our academic programs. 

Student summer internships with non-governmental organizations, government agencies, and international human rights bodies in the U.S. and around the world. Read more about our internship program. 

The Human Rights Lab, which builds community centered on solutions to the human rights crises of mass incarceration and racialized policing. Read more about the work of the Lab.

Research that brings together faculty and students from across disciplinary divisions and professional schools to grapple with issues such as health and human rights, human rights at home, arts and advocacy, migration and human rights, and human rights history. Read more about our faculty projects and student research support.

Projects and events to enhance the University’s engagement with local, regional, national, and international human rights scholars, practitioners, and public officials. Read more about our events.