The Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights serves as the hub of the Harvard Kennedy School’s research, teaching, and training in the human rights domain. The center embraces a dual mission: to educate students and the next generation of leaders from around the world in human rights policy and practice; and to convene and provide policy-relevant knowledge to international organizations, governments, policymakers, and businesses.

About the Carr-Ryan Center

Since its founding in 1999, the Carr-Ryan Center has dedicated the last quarter-century to human rights policy.

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Carr-Ryan Commentary
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Justice Matters Podcast
 

Human Rights Day 2025: Rethinking Rights for a New Era

The Carr-Ryan Center's Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy Fellows to share their perspectives on why human rights still matter and why they may be more important now than at any point in the 77 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted.
 

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How Alaskan Communities are Meeting the Climate Crisis

Robin Bronen, co-founder of the Alaska Institute for Justice (AIJ) about the pressing effects of climate change on communities in Alaska - the fastest warming region in the United States - and the implications for human rights.

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The Impact of Anti-DEI Legislation

Antonio Ingram II, Senior Counsel at the Legal Defense Fund, speaks about the impact of anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) legislation on educational equity and political participation.

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Holding World Leaders Accountable

Eboe-Osuji discusses his new book, “End of Immunity: Holding World Leaders Accountable for Aggression, Genocide, War Crimes, and Crimes against Humanity.”

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Governing Ireland Through Transformational Change

Leo Varadkar, the former Prime Minister of Ireland discusses contemporary human rights and global democracy on the occasion of his new memoir. 

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Black Women and the Making of Human Rights

Keisha Blain talks about her new book “Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights.”


 

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Righting Wrongs

Ken Roth, former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch about his new book Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments.

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Misinformation and Digital Threats: War in Ukraine

Anna Romandash discusses the impacts of misinformation in the global narrative around the war in Ukraine.

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“The Carr-Ryan Center is building a bridge between ideas on human rights and the practice on the ground—and right now we’re at a critical juncture around the world.”
Mathias Risse, Faculty Director
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