Global Justice and Human Rights

Seventy-five years on from the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, injustice, oppression, and violence continue to impede human freedom and dignity across the globe. Regional armed conflicts, the unfolding climate crisis, and the rise of authoritarianism all present complex challenges to the pursuit of global justice.

As a global hub that brings government, nongovernmental, and academic leaders together, Perry World House is uniquely positioned to advance research and discourse on human rights policymaking. Since its inception, Perry World House has hosted critical dialogues on an array of relevant issues concerning gender, migration, indigenous rights, reparations, and civil liberties. It has brought leading dissidents, such as Nathan Law of Hong Kong and Evan Mawarire of Zimbabwe, to provide the Penn community with unparalleled insights from the front lines into the struggles against authoritarianism. 

In 2023, Perry World House formally launched its Global Justice and Human Rights Program, which featured an inaugural visiting fellowship of Kenneth Roth, former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch. Going forward, this program will continue to deepen Penn students’ understanding of human rights issues and inform faculty research in related areas. It will analyze trends in human rights policy worldwide, host thought leaders with experience directing global human rights initiatives, and create forums for multidisciplinary collaboration on global justice concerns.

This year's Global Justice and Human Rights Visiting Fellows are Philip Alston and Kate Gilmore. Read more about Alston and Gilmore here.