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 19 September 2025, at the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Human Rights Research League delivered an oral statement on Afghanistan during the General Debate on Item 3. In his intervention, HRRL Chairman Tom Syring underlined that more than four years after the Taliban's seizure of power, the humanitarian and human rights situation in Afghanistan remains dire. Hunger is widespread, with more than a third of the population facing acute food insecurity, a situation further exacerbated by mass deportations conducted by Iran and Pakistan, often in violation of the fundamental legal principle of non-refoulement.

 

The exclusion of women from work and public life, and of girls from education beyond 6th grade further contributes to this precarious situation and will have a lasting, negative effect not only on the mental health of those deprived of opportunities for personal growth, but on the development of the country. 

 

Meanwhile, revenge killings in Afghanistan continue to this day. Against this backdrop, Human Rights Research League strongly supported an extension of the Special Rapporteur's mandate. For the full statement, please see the video of the Oral Statement on UN Web TV.

Conferences & calls

Webinar on 'A Right of Peoples and Individuals to International Solidarity?', November 18, 2021
2021-11-10 19:15 On November 18, 2021, from 12:30-2PM (EST), the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University will host a webinar on 'A Right of Peoples and Individuals to International ...
Hybrid Seminar on Challenges of Constitution-Making in Sudan, November 12, 2021
2021-10-25 01:16 On 12 November 2021, the Christian Michelsen Institute (CMI) will organize a seminar on the Challenges of Constitution-Making in Sudan, debating the challenges the transitional government faces in its...
50th Annual Conference of the Canadian Council on International Law, October 20-22, 2021
2021-10-03 21:33 The Canadian Council on International Law will hold its 50th Annual Conference on October 20-22, 2021, this year devoted to the theme of 'Getting International Law Back on Track?'. The conference will...
Conference on International Criminal Law before Domestic Courts, October 14-16, 2021
2021-10-03 21:19 On October 14-16, 2021, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights in cooperation with the University of Vienna will organize a conference on International Criminal Law before Dome...
Final Program: Joint Workshop on 'The Evolution of the Principle of Non-Refoulement in International Law: What Role for New Types of International Law-Making?', September 8, 2021
2021-08-29 15:11 On 8 September 2021, Human Rights Research League along with the European Society of International Law (ESIL) Interest Group on Migration and Refugee Law and the ESIL Interest Group on International C...
Conference on Extraterritoriality in International Law, September 15-17, 2021
2021-08-27 02:07 The Maurer School of Law at Indiana University invites to a three-day conference and webinar on 'Extraterritoriality in International Law'' from 15-17 September 2021. For more information and to regis...
Annual Meeting Announcement
2021-08-23 20:37 Human Rights Research League will hold its Annual Meeting on Saturday, 23 October 2021, at 1:00 PM EDT / 7:00 CET via Zoom. HRRL members interested in participating, please get in touch via info@hrrle...
Webinar on FGM and Women's Access to Health, August 17, 2021
2021-08-05 16:33 On 17 August 2021, from 17:00 -18:30 (11 AM - 12:30 PM, EST), Human Rights Research League will organize a webinar on 'FGM, Women's Access to Health, and Social Norms in Norway', with an interdiscipli...
Call for Papers: The Evolution of the Principle of Non-Refoulement in International Law: What Role for New Types of International Law-Making?
2021-06-17 23:16 On 8 September 2021, Human Rights Research League along with the European Society of International Law (ESIL) Interest Group on Migration and Refugee Law and the ESIL Interest Group on International C...
Call for Papers: Student Essay Competition on Avoiding Civilian Harm during Military Cyber Operations
2021-04-09 14:10 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Geneva Academy are launching a global undergraduate student essay competition on Avoiding Civilian Harm during Military Cyber Operations. Th...
Webinar on Public Intellectual: The Life of a Citizen Pilgrim - A Conversation with Richard Falk, April 13, 2021
2021-04-08 14:48 On April 13, 2021, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (EST), Richard Falk, one of the preeminent international law scholars and advocates of his generation, will be joining a conversation to discuss his newly publishe...
Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development, May 4-7, 2021
2021-04-08 00:38 The 2021 Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development will be held on May 4-7 on the theme of 'Promoting Peace in the Age of Compound Risk'. For each of the days of the Forum, the format will combine open...
Webinar on Constitutionalism and Democracy in Turkey and Beyond, April 8, 2021
2021-04-05 22:15 On April 8, 2021, from 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM EST, the Istanbul Policy Center and the Sakip Sabanci Center for Turkish Studies at Columbia University are organizing a webinar on Constitutionalism and Demo...

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