Human Rights Advocacy and Research Human rights are enshrined in international law, multiple regional treaties and national constitutions. Despite the ubiquity of human rights principles in modern legal systems and political discourses, their practical implementation remains patchy. The highly technical language associated with the legal process is often a barrier for public participation in monitoring and advocating for their own rights. The increase in conspiracy theories, disinformation and attacks on groups working on human rights issues around the globe, make the fulfilment of human rights even more challenging. To help students address these challenges the course will offer skills training through a workshop-oriented structure. Students will learn how to conduct human rights focused research, assess information for accuracy and translate legal and technical information into a more accessible language. Students will also learn how to present information and pressure for change. Students will work on a specific area of law or policy where human rights issues have been compromised and are difficult to access for local communities. For example, the rights to consultation for the inhabitants living next to a hydropower station, social assistance during pandemic, and addressing and countering online attacks against civil rights advocates and activists, to mention a few cases. The cases will focus on the human rights situation in the Balkans and the US. Students will be encouraged to use comparative cases from elsewhere around the world to deepen their understanding of challenges and problem-solving opportunities in different contexts. The skills training and collaboration will help students build critical and analytical skills and become more active in helping communities access information and engage with their own human rights.