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Who We Are

Our Mission

The mission of The Advocates for Human Rights is to implement international human rights standards to promote civil society and reinforce the rule of law. By involving volunteers in research, education, and advocacy, we build broad constituencies in the United States and select global communities. 

Our Vision

We envision a world in which every person lives with dignity, freedom, justice, equality, and peace; and believe that every person has a part to play in building respect for human rights and expanding the human rights movement in the United States and around the world.

Our Approach

The Advocates for Human Rights believes everyone has the power to advance human rights. By engaging volunteers in hands-on human rights work, The Advocates not only accomplishes critical research and advocacy, we transform volunteers into advocates for human rights.

With a dual focus on systemic change and direct services, we ground policy work in real-life experiences, bridging the gap between advocacy and action. When our clients experience injustice, we help them and advocate to change the systems that perpetuate those injustices. When our partners report barriers to safety and security, we identify the gaps in legal protections and develop solutions.

Rooted in deep expertise and strong relationships, The Advocates works in partnerships in our home community and around the globe to address some of the world's most intractable human rights issues.

Our History

Founded in 1983, The Advocates for Human Rights started with a group of lawyers seeking to leverage Minnesota's spirit of social justice to promote and protect human rights worldwide.   

The Advocates for Human Rights is an independent, non-partisan, 501(c)(3) non-governmental international human rights organization.