Human Rights Advocacy in Practice

This course equips students with both time-honored and cutting-edge advocacy skills to advance and protect human rights. Working on a current issue of their choice, students will develop a full advocacy strategy, defining goals, identifying targets, and selecting tactics grounded in rigorous research.

Using real-world case studies, the course explores how successful campaigns are built, including coalition-building, media engagement, and advocacy with UN bodies and national policymakers. Students will analyze what makes campaigns effective and how to adapt strategies across different political and institutional contexts. Students will also debate how human rights advocacy can meet the challenge of the rise of authoritarian power, closing civic space, dramatic reductions in funding, and human rights threats exacerbated by new technologies.

Throughout the semester, students will develop a toolkit of practical skills widely used in the human rights field. Assignments are designed to mirror professional advocacy work and include drafting advocacy letters, op-eds, and submissions to UN mechanisms or treaty bodies, as well as producing a final advocacy strategy.

The course includes a diverse set of guest speakers who have designed and led impactful advocacy and also features interactive simulations, giving students hands-on experience with engaging policymakers and communicating persuasively in high-stakes settings.