Upcoming events
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Whistleblower detained after exposing Mauritanian President’s Ponzi scheme
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HRF entregó primer Premio Rómulo Betancourt a la Diplomacia Democrática
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Egyptian Photojournalist Shawkan Released After Five Years in Arbitrary Detention
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HRF’s statement on North Korea and Otto Warmbier
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HRF to UN Special Rapporteur: Defend the Free Speech of North Korean Defectors and Human Rights Activists in South Korea
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HRF anuncia entrega del primer Premio Rómulo Betancourt a la Diplomacia Democrática
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TIME Person of the Year Maria Ressa Arrested in the Philippines
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HRF Urges World-Renowned Artists to Cancel Concert in Saudi Arabia
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Why Bitcoin Matters for Freedom
ANNOUNCEMENTS
How we fight for human rights
Events
We host high-impact events in more than seven countries. Every May we convene the Oslo Freedom Forum, our flagship event.
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Programs
We create and sustain campaigns that reach millions of people, inspiring action - like sending information and technology into North Korea.
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Research
Our legal team constantly monitors human rights conditions around the world, shining a light on tyranny and corruption.
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News
We write op-eds and perform TV interviews in the world's top news outlets, and spark action with press releases.
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FEATURED INITIATIVES
News About HRF
“HRF opens the door
Farida Nabourema, co-founder of the 'Faure Must Go Movement'
for us to be able to
make it harder for
our oppressors to
oppress us in Togo.”
Donate to HRF's cause
Donate your funds
We run programs across the world supporting activists and inspiring new ones. Our events and programs annually engage millions of people from all walks of life.
Donate your time
Volunteer your personal skills or company’s services to make a difference in the struggle for human rights.
Donate your social media
Join the movement. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and share our content to help spread the word.
Frequently asked questions
What is HRF’s mission?
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. HRF unites people in the common cause of defending human rights and promoting liberal democracy in authoritarian regimes throughout the world.
MoreWho founded HRF and when was it founded?
HRF was founded April 12, 2005 by Thor Halvorssen. Three months previous, on February 1, 2005, his mother was shot by the Venezuelan government while she was in the streets protesting their corruption. But no matter what Halvorssen did, no one would hold the government accountable.
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