Announcement Feb 19, 2026 The international community must call for the immediate release of Umar Khalid On Jan. 5, 2026, the Indian Supreme Court denied bail to human rights defender and student activist Umar Khalid, who has been detained for over five years without trial, in violation of India’s obligations under international human rights law.
Announcement Jan 24, 2026 Joint Statement on the Day of the Endangered Lawyer Today, January 24th, marks the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer. In recognition of endangered lawyers around the world, we, the undersigned, express our deep alarm at the growing repression of lawyers worldwide for the legitimate exercise of their professional duties.
Press Release Jan 17, 2026 HRF Petitions UN in Case of Navalny’s Lawyers Spotlighted by Yulia Navalnaya’s Washington Post Op-Ed The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted the case of lawyers Vadim Kobzev and Alexei Liptser to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) today, on the first anniversary of their sentencing.
Press Release Jan 13, 2026 HRF urges UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to rule Iran’s detention of online activist Hossein Shanbehzadeh arbitrary and unlawful Today, the Human Rights Foundation submitted an individual complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) on behalf of Iranian online activist and freelance editor Hossein Shanbehzadeh, urging the group to declare his detention arbitrary and in violation of international law.
Op-Ed Jan 9, 2026 Umar Khalid and the Erosion of Indian Justice Khalid’s case is a stark example of how the Modi government weaponizes anti-terror laws to indefinitely silence Muslim voices and crush dissent.
Press Release Jan 5, 2026 HRF urges UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to rule India’s detention of activist Umar Khalid arbitrary and unlawful The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) condemns the Indian Supreme Court’s decision on January 5th, 2026 to deny bail in the case of Indian activist Umar Khalid, who has been detained for over five years without trial or conviction.
Announcement Dec 31, 2025 You can make the final day of 2025 count for freedom As 2025 comes to a close, we at the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) are proud to acknowledge the collective progress we have made this year in the struggle against tyranny.
Press Release Dec 17, 2025 HRF and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) petition United Nations on behalf of Nicaraguan journalist Fabiola Tercero Castro Last month, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) sent a joint submission to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) on behalf of prominent Nicaraguan journalist and activist Fabiola Tercero Castro.
Press Release Dec 15, 2025 HRF Succeeds at the UN: Vietnam Called to Release Blogger Nguyen Chi Tuyến The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) has received a favorable opinion from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), finding that prominent Vietnamese activist and blogger Nguyễn Chí Tuyến, widely known as Anh Chí, is arbitrarily detained by the Vietnamese regime, in clear violation of international human rights law.
Press Release Dec 12, 2025 Following HRF Petition, UN Experts Condemn Egypt for Arbitrary Detention The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) received a favorable opinion from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), finding Egypt’s detention of human rights defender Ahmed Amasha arbitrary under international human rights law.
Announcement Dec 11, 2025 Looking back at 20 years of impact Twenty years ago, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) was born out of the belief that dissidents standing up to authoritarianism deserve a voice.
Press Release Dec 4, 2025 HRF succeeds in UN petition: Swaziland called on to immediately release two former lawmakers The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) received a favorable opinion from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), finding that Swaziland’s (unilaterally renamed eSwatini by King Mswati III in 2018) detention of former lawmakers Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube is arbitrary and violates international human rights law.
Press Release Aug 19, 2025 HRF secures UN opinion condemning Vietnam’s detention of Khmer Krom activists The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) found that Vietnam’s detention of To Hoang Chuong and Thach Cuong — activists and members of the Khmer Krom indigenous community — is arbitrary and violates international law.
Press Release Jul 9, 2025 HRF Highlights Human Rights Abuses in Georgia and Rwanda at UN Review Last week, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted formal contributions to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Georgia and Rwanda, bringing urgent attention to deteriorating human rights conditions in both countries.
Press Release May 6, 2025 Bolivia: HRF advierte que jueces que ignoran decisión de la ONU se enfrentarán a sanciones Magnitsky La Human Rights Foundation (HRF) condena enérgicamente al Tribunal de Sentencia Penal, Anticorrupción y Violencia Contra la Mujer Sexto de la ciudad de La Paz, presidido por el juez Marco Antonio Vargas, por su negativa a acatar una decisión emitida en marzo de 2025 por el Grupo de Trabajo sobre la Detención Arbitraria de las Naciones Unidas (GTDA), que determinó que la detención preventiva del gobernador de Santa Cruz, Luis Fernando Camacho, es arbitraria y viola el derecho internacional.
Press Release May 6, 2025 Bolivia: HRF warns judges ignoring UN decision will face Magnitsky sanctions The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) strongly condemns Bolivia’s Sixth Court for Criminal, Anti-Corruption, and Violence Against Women Matters in La Paz, presided over by Judge Marco Antonio Vargas, for its refusal to comply with a March 2025 decision issued by the United Nations
Press Release Apr 24, 2025 HRF submits case of Cambodian activist Koet Saray to UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Earlier this month, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted the case of Cambodian environmental and human rights activist Koet Saray to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD).
Press Release Apr 8, 2025 HRF succeeds in Uzbekistan case: UN calls for immediate release of Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) received a favorable opinion from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD), which found that Uzbekistan’s detention of Karakalpak activist and lawyer, Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov, is arbitrary and violates fundamental international human rights law.
Press Release Apr 1, 2025 HRF Brings UN Attention to Rights Abuses in Four Countries Last week, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted contributions to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review regarding Belarus, Honduras, Libya, and Malawi.
Press Release Mar 28, 2025 HRF succeeds in UN petition: Bolivia condemned for arbitrary detention of democratically elected governor The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) welcomes the decision of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) ruling that the arrest of Santa Cruz Governor Luiz Fernando Camacho in Bolivia was arbitrary and in violation of international law. HRF submitted the petition on behalf of Camacho in February 2023.
