The IHRC carries out three parallel. yet independent, lines of work; the promotion, consultation, and teaching of human rights.

In each of these areas special attention is given to relations with other institutions, network participation and study and research activities.

In the area of promotion, activities of different types are carried out on diverse themes (forgotten conflicts, rights in the city, emerging rights, human rights in the street...) but with a common objective; to spread the culture of human rights in our society in order to make effective the respect, enjoyment and guarantee of fundamental rights.

With respect to its consultancy work, the IHRC offers technical and scientific support to public institutions in the development and implementation of, for example, the European Charter for the Safeguarding of Human Rights in the City. The Institute also gives its support to specific projects linked to the strengthening of the culture of human rights in civil society.

As part of its work teaching human rights, the IHRC organises courses, specialist seminars, short courses for specific groups, studies and research work, analysis and evaluation projects, and conferences at the local as well as the international level.