About the UZHR

The Centre for Human Rights of the University of Zurich (UZHR) is an interdisciplinary scientific network with the purpose of promoting and coordinating research, teaching and knowledge transfer in the area of human rights. By bringing together the skills of experts from different disciplines including law, economics, natural sciences, and political science, the UZHR aims at enhancing the accessibility of existing knowledge and expertise and at the same time at advancing it further in research and teaching (Members). 

Through its activities in research and teaching as well as by providing services in favour of a wider public, the UZHR contributes to the realisation of human rights and strengthens the visibility of the University of Zurich in this field (Publications).

It also organises research-related events as well as practice-oriented projects (in particular upon request by the civil society). Over the years, the UZHR has become a leading academic institution in the field of human rights in Switzerland. The UZHR advances human rights in business through collaborations with a multitude of stakeholders including research institutes, the private sector, the government and civil society.

At a national level, the UZHR was responsible for the Human Rights and Business cluster of the Swiss Centre for Expertise in Human Rights (SCHR).

Internationally, the UZHR closely cooperates with foreign universities and human rights institutes for joint projects in the field of business and human rights (Partners).

Since its founding in 2009, the UZHR has become a leading academic institution in the field of business and human rights.

In addition to compiling and further developing the human rights knowledge base, the UZHR actively promotes a comprehensive knowledge exchange with business and political actors as well as the general public. The UZHR aims to increase awareness for human rights issues with events and other relevant knowledge transfer efforts tailored to specific target groups. Thanks to this engagement and effort, the UZHR is now a contact point for everyone seeking  expertise and advisory services on the subject of human rights in Switzerland.