International Human Rights Programme
The programme focuses on three human rights enshrined in international law: the right to liberty and security of the person; freedom from torture; and the right to asylum. The programme seeks to:
- Place human rights squarely on international and national agendas, especially in the global south through influential coverage in opinion-making media; effective advocacy in centres of political leverage; and the mobilization of popular support for human rights through innovative campaigns;
- Build legal expertise and catalyse developments in human rights law at both the national and regional levels with emphasis on the erosion of fundamental guarantees by counter-terrorism measures, combating impunity (including through the exercise of universal jurisdiction) and the development of a local, activist legal community working in defence of human rights;
- Defend ‘the right to truth’ through the construction, preservation and popular presentation of the historical narrative of human rights violations in societies emerging, or yet to emerge, from authoritarian or repressive rule;
- Improve refugee protection in the global south and in Europe through strengthening guarantees of non-refoulement, fair and impartial determination procedures, and refugee participation in durable solutions;
- Build the capacity of local human rights activists, communities and networks.
The Programme currently does not work in conflict zones.