Human Rights Research League

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

 

What impact does living in a long-term situation of war, conflict, and insecurity have on the mental health of a population? This new study at the junction of law and psychology, conducted in partnership between the University of Montreal and Human Rights Research League, takes the situation in Lebanon from the civil war in the 1970s till today as a point of departure and explores the impact of cumulative traumatic events experienced quasi-permanently by the Lebanese people.

 

The findings will likely be of relevance to similar situations of long-term conflict, neglect and/or state failure, e.g. in Afghanistan, the Congo (DRC), Gaza, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, or Yemen.

 

Please see the full Research Report (in French). A brief Summary of the Research Project (in English) is also available. 

Conferences & calls

12th Annual International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition
2025-11-05 17:04 The 12th Annual International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition has just been announced. The competition is co-sponsored by the American Society of International Law (ASIL), the International La...
HRRL Participation in Panel Discussion on the Death Penalty
2025-10-03 15:10 On 9 October 2025, Human Rights Research League Political Adviser Milica Javdan will participate in a panel discussion on the death penalty organized by Amnesty International, the Association of Irani...
HRRL Side Event on Mental Health in Times of War at the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
2025-09-19 20:41 On the occasion of the 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Human Rights Research League (HRRL) will organize a Side Event & Report Launch at the Palais des Nations, on M...
Conference on the Occasion of World Refugee Day
2025-06-23 15:16 On the occasion of World Refugee Day, the Federation of Afghan Resident Organizations in Europe (FAROE) held a conference dedicated to the deteriorating situation of Afghan refugees. Human Rights Rese...
Conference on State Violence and Collective Trauma in Lebanon - Video Released
2025-04-18 15:49 On 16 April 2025, the Department of Psychology at Saint Joseph University of Beirut organized a conference (in French) dedicated to topics raised by HRRL Adviser in Psychology Zeina Zerbe's book and p...
HRRL Statements on Ukraine at the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
2025-03-20 13:32 At the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Human Rights Research League delivered an oral statement in connection with the Interactive Dialogue with the Independent International Co...
Interview on France 24 (Arabic) on Historical Massacre in Damour, Lebanon
2025-01-18 23:30 On January 18, 2025, Human Rights Research League's Adviser in Psychology, Zeina Zerbe, was interviewed by France 24 about her research into the historical massacre in Damour, Lebanon, and its psychos...
CfP: Annual International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition. Submission Deadline: February 15, 2025
2025-01-13 21:27 The American Society of International Law's International Refugee Law Interest Group (IRLIG) has just announced the eleventh Annual International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition, co-sponsored ...
HRRL Statements on Ukraine at the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
2024-10-08 14:55 At the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Human Rights Research League delivered oral statements on Ukraine in connection with the Interactive Diaogue with the Commission of Inquir...
HRRL Statement on South Sudan at the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
2024-10-04 14:11 On 4 October 2024, at the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Human Rights Research League (HRRL) delivered an oral statement during the Interactive Dialogue on the oral update by t...
HRRL Statement on the Protection of UN Mandate Holders at the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
2024-09-26 14:50 On 26 September 2024, on the occasion of the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Human Rights Research League delivered an oral statement on the Protection of UN Mandate holders dur...
HRRL-RWI Side Event on Accountability for Human Rights Violations in Afghanistan at the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
2024-09-12 14:44 On the occasion of the 57th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Human Rights Research League (HRRL) and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (R...
HRRL Statement on Iran at the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
2024-09-11 22:10 On 11 September 2024, on the occasion of the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Human Rights Research League delivered an oral statement on Iran during the General Debate on Item 2...

Latest publications