Human Rights Research League

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Research. Education. Advocacy. Development. (R.E.A.D.)

Mission statement

The Human Rights Research League (HRRL) is a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations (ECOSOC) aiming at protecting individuals by placing acts contrary to human rights and international humanitarian law, systemic grievances as well as humanitarian emergencies on the agenda. HRRL seeks to contribute to knowledge and research based public discussion and problem analysis without geographical, political, confessional or other limitations or alignments.

As our name suggests, we are an organization primarily focused on research from the basis of a strong academic foundation. However, we recognize that lasting impact and positive change also depend on connecting academics and practitioners, combining research on root causes of human rights challenges with implementation of projects and policies addressing those grievances. 

To this end, we are engaged in four focus areas: Research. Education. Advocacy. Development. (R.E.A.D.), all with a view to bridging the gap between academic and practical approaches to human rights, and between problem analysis and implementation of solutions.

 

News & reports

 

On 13 March 2026, at the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Human Rights Research League, together with the Center for Civil Liberties, the Media Initiative for Human Rights, Physicians for Human Rights, the World Organization against Torture, and ZMINA Human Rights Center organized a Side Event on 'Russia's War on Civilians in Ukraine'. 

 

The panel, moderated by Saman Zia-Zarifi, Executive Director (Physicians for Human Rights), included interventions by Oleksandra Matviichuk, Chairwoman (Center for Civil Liberties), Tom Syring, Chairman (Human Rights Research League), Lyubov Smachylo, Head of the Analytical Department (Media Initiative for Human Rights), Uliana Poltavets, International Advocacy & Ukraine Program Coordinator (Physicians for Human Rights), and Borys Petruniok, Researcher & Analyst (Human Rights Center ZMINA).

 

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war of aggression, civilians have been actively targeted and subjected to Russia's campaign of  widespread and systematic abuses, including arbitrary detention, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, attacks on health care and energy infrastructure, and constant missile and drone attacks specifically aiming at civilians.

 

This panel explored how Russia's campaign of widespread and systematic abuses translated into sustained harm particularly to the civilian population, and what is needed to strengthen protection and accountability.

 

For further details, please see the Side Event flyer, and photographs from the panel: Image1, Image2, Image3, Image4, Image5.

Conferences & calls

ESIL Research Forum, Department of Law, University of Catania, Italy, April 15-16, 2021
2021-01-13 19:14 The next ESIL Research Forum is now reschedueld to take place on 15-16 April 2021 at the Department of Law, University of Catania, Italy. The ESIL Research will address the topic: 'Solidarity: The Que...
Call for Papers: 7th Annual International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition
2021-01-13 00:00 The American Society of International Law's International Refugee Law Interest Group (IRLIG) announces its seventh annual International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition, co-sponsored by the Glo...