Human Rights Watch volunteers engage in a number of advocacy campaigns and initiatives. The Advocacy Committee draws together volunteers who work to raise awareness of human rights issues in the community through special events, coordinate advocacy on legislation, and influence public dialogue on policies related to human rights issues.

Juvenile Justice Advocacy Task Force
The Juvenile Justice Task Force is a coalition of juvenile justice advocates including mental health and education professionals, activists, attorneys and social workers dedicated to advocating the rights of youth in California's juvenile justice system. Past activities have included monitoring conditions in the juvenile module of Men's Central Jail, interviewing youth and jail staff, and attending meetings with public officials. Members also advocate state and federal legislation that protects juvenile offenders, opposing "gang enhancement" legislation which removes sentencing discretion from judges and widens the scope of charges for which children can be tried as adults. The group also seeks to draw media attention to the greater issue of the adultification of juvenile offenders through media outreach and public education events.

Advocacy Committee Co-Chair Justin Connolly leads a discussion on plans to expand advocacy efforts with the juvenile justice task force

Filmmaker and juvenile justice task force member Leslie Neale speaks with guests at a screening of her film Juvies
Child Soldiers
Advocacy Committee members work in conjunction with the Children's Rights Division of Human Rights Watch to promote awareness of the continued use of children in combat. Past initiatives have included special public education events, visits to consulates of countries where the use of child soldiers persists, and letter-writing and call-in campaigns to policy makers in support of congressional initiatives to aggressively address the issue of children in combat.
Three Strikes
Advocacy members have participated in a statewide coalition to amend the three strikes law in California, supporting legislation that excludes nonviolent crimes from charges that qualify as strikes.
Monitoring Immigration Facilities
For over five years, the Young Advocates have made regular visits to the San Pedro Service Processing Facility now under the direction of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. YA's tour the facility and interview staff and detainees in order to make recommendations on how the facility can better adhere to established standards of confinement. Young Advocates will assemble and lead a new task force comprised of participants from all committees that will address immigration issues at facilities throughout the United States.