What We Do

The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to protect and promote human rights in Iran. Headquartered in New York, CHRI is comprised of award-winning journalists, researchers, lawyers, activists, writers, multimedia specialists and advocates based around the world who work to support the basic rights and freedoms of the Iranian people.

  • CHRI received over 4000 international media citations in 2020.
  • In 2020, CHRI published hundreds of articles on human rights issues and press releases on urgent developments, all in both English and Persian, directly distributed to over 4,000 government, UN, NGO and media leaders worldwide.
  • CHRI’s in-depth reports are comprehensive sources of detailed information and analysis on critical rights issues.
  • CHRI’s Fact Sheets highlight information on key human rights issues in a concise, accessible formats.
  • CHRI reaches as many as one million people a month through its Persian and English social media (see our Facebook, Persian Twitter, English Twitter, Persian Instagram, English Instagram)
Download a PDF about the Center here. 
About the Center 

The Center for Human Rights in Iran is an independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 to protect
and promote human rights in Iran. Headquartered in New York City and with staff in Washington, D.C., the Center is considered one of the leading global authorities on Iran. 

Research & Documentation 

The Center researches and documents human rights violations throughout Iran, relying on primary sources and our extensive network within Iranian civil society to investigate and report on cases and issues of pressing concern. Our work covers areas such as freedom of expression, the right to protest, internet freedom, due process and fair trials, political prisoners, women’s and children’s rights, labor issues and minority rights.

Our findings are channeled into hundreds of articles every year, creating a public record that is used as a primary source of information by decision makers worldwide. All our work, including our press releases, fact sheets, and videos, is produced in both English and Farsi, supporting our mission to reach and inform the citizens of Iran as well as a global audience.

Thought Leadership and Policy Guidance

The Center’s findings are also channeled into analytical articles and commentary that are published in leading journals such as Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy, as well as comprehensive reports that provide in-depth information and analysis of critical rights issues. This work—distributed to over 4,000 government, UN, think tank, academic, NGO and media leaders worldwide—is intended to build knowledge and expand discussion amongst the expert community so that more effective global responses to rights abuses in Iran can be developed.

The Center also produces detailed policy briefings for government officials in the U.S. and abroad, and conducts regular meetings to brief policymakers and experts, providing deeply informed and impartial analysis of rights issues, their implications, and policy recommendations.

International Advocacy

The Center engages in advocacy with governments worldwide to advance support for human rights initiatives, and we have become a leading source of information, analysis and recommendations on Iran for the U.N. We regularly submit major reports
to UN bodies and brief UN expert teams, and we are cited more than any other organization in UN reports on Iran.  Through this work, we identify areas of concern, bring the voices of Iranian human rights defenders to the international community, and advance UN action on human rights issues.

Media Outreach

The Center alerts the media to events and issues, provides background information, gives in-depth interviews and writes op-eds for publications that reach millions.

In 2020 alone, the Center received over 4000 media citations, and we are often featured by Reuters, AP, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and CNN. Our social media outreach is extensive, reaching as many as one million people a month through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and our Farsi social media campaigns reach millionsof Iranians, informing the public of rights abuses and amplifying the voices of those who are suppressed.

Art, Culture & Society

 The Center’s Arts, Culture & Society program provides a platform for repressed artistic voices and promotes freedom of expression, cross-cultural understanding and tolerance. Our 2019-2020 art exhibition in New York City, A Bridge Between You and Everything, for example, which was curated by acclaimed artist Shirin Neshat, featured more than 100 works by 14 prominent Iranian women artists and included a panel discussion at NYU’s prestigious Grey Art Gallery on artistic freedom.

Our Approach

The Center’s approach is non-partisan and nonpolitical; we operate within the framework of human rights law and we do not accept any funds from any government.

The Center’s Impact
  • Led the advocacy campaign for the creation of the mandate for the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran
  • Helped change Iran’s draconian death penalty laws to save thousands of lives each year
  • Obtained stays in the execution of juvenile and other offenders
  • Uncovered state violence against protesters and detainees
  • Advanced critical legislation regarding women’s and children’s rights
  • Strengthened internet access and security for hundreds of thousands of Iranian citizens
  • Obtained releases, medical care and family leave for political prisoners
  • Raised societal awareness in Iran of the discrimination religious and ethnic minorities face
  • Initiated groundbreaking advocacy for people with disabilities
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