Chapter 2 of “Applying a Human Rights Approach to Social Work Research and Evaluation: A ‘Rights’ Research Manifesto ,” presents the first theme-based strategy of a rights research approach, Understanding and Applying a Human Rights Lens. It reviews: (1) the values and principles of a human right framework (UN 2015), (2) relevant human rights instruments, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , (3) familiarity with human rights implementation mechanisms, and (4) knowledge and application of the central constructs for research that advances human rights and the mission of social work. They are reviewed in that order, respectively. The chapter includes experiential exercises that assist rights research users to conceptualize and apply human rights with a diversity of research designs, populations, and settings.