1. About the Center



The Center for Human Rights Studies was created in 2001 as a research institute affiliated to the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the University of Tehran. The main objective of the Center for Human Rights Studies is to raise awareness and understanding about human rights through educational and research activities in different areas of human rights. The Center provides advice and expertise on Human Rights to Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations, and cooperates with them in the organization of various educational projects. Since the establishment of a Master’s Degree in Human Rights at the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the University of Tehran, the Center has also served as an academic information center for students enrolled in this program.



The Center started its activities alongside the implementation of the National Project for “Strengthening Capacities for Human Rights Training and Research” in Iran. The United Nations Development program (UNDP) initiated this 4-year project in 1999 and its implementation was assigned to the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the University of Tehran. The Center for Human Right Studies as the main research and educational institution in the field of human rights at the University of Tehran had the main role in its execution. The success of the aforementioned project prompted the United Nations Development Program to initiate another project named “National Capacity Building for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights for Greater Access to Justice”. In this new project that has started in late 2005 for a duration of 5 years, the Center for Human Rights Studies was designated as Lead Agency. This project is collective, and will be implemented with the collaboration of seven national partners including academic institutes, governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations.



2. Activities



A. Research



The Center sponsors various research projects that are presented to the public through a seminar after their completion. Since the foundation of the center the following projects have been undertaken:



· Freedom of Expression

· Justice, Equality , and Equity in Human Rights

· Strengthening International Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights

· Rule of Law and Human Rights

· Non-Governmental Organizations and Human Rights

· Substitutive Penalties to Imprisonment for Women

· Contemporary Forms of Slavery and Exploitation of Women and Children