Justice Defenders Program
Supporting human rights defenders around the world who face retaliation for their work.
Center for Human Rights
Mobilizing lawyers to defend threatened advocates, protect vulnerable communities, and hold governments accountable under law
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The Latest
Angola: Criticism of the State is a Right, Not a Crime
This report analyzes Article 333 of Angola's Penal Code, and concludes that its criminalization of insulting the State violates the fundamental right to freedom of expression.
Read the report - Here
Zimbabwe: The Case of Obert Masaraure
In May 2024, union leader Obert Masaraure was convicted on charges of obstruction of justice, in one of several criminal cases authorities have pursued against him. This report details the rights and abuse of process violations from indictment to conviction in the case, including freedom of expression, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention, and the right to be tried without unreasonable delay.
View - The Report
Cameroon Military Courts
The report finds that the Cameroonian government uses its anti-terrorism law to prosecute human rights defenders and journalists in military tribunals, rather than impartial civilian courts, and consistently denies them the right to a fair trial and appeals process, coupled with incommunicado and lengthy pre-trial detention.
View - The ReportCHR’s Work
Reports, Articles & Publications
View the Center's materials relating to human rights violations, rule of law, and governmental accountability around the world.
Eleanor Roosevelt Prize for Global Human Rights Advancement
With the blessing of the Roosevelt family, CHR in 2018 established the annual Eleanor Roosevelt Prize for Global Human Rights Advancement to recognize persons and organizations having a positive, enduring, and global impact in advancing the principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Eleanor Roosevelt championed.
CHR-TV
Center Leadership
The Center consists of an executive board, chaired by Roula Allouch, special counselors and an advisory council, all appointed by the ABA president. Liaisons to the Center are appointed by ABA entities and external organizations.
CHR: A History
Founded in February 2001, CHR celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2021. This History tells the circuitous tale of CHR’s evolution from one man’s idea, to a small group’s adopted cause, to a new staff’s shared mission, to a multi-faceted defender of human rights and a just rule of law around the world.