Press Release Jul 21, 2026 HRF succeeds in UN petition: Thailand condemned for arbitrary detention of pro-democracy activist Sopon “Get” Surariddhidhamrong NEW YORK (July 21, 2026) – The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) and Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) have secured a legal victory after the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) declared the arrest and detention of Thai pro-democracy activist, Sopon “Get” Surariddhidhamrong, to be arbitrary and in violation of international law.
Press Release Jul 18, 2026 HRF Condemns the Forced Exile of Cuban Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara NEW YORK (July 18, 2026) – The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) welcomes the news that artist and prisoner of conscience Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is no longer behind bars after five years of unjust imprisonment, and condemns the Cuban regime for forcing him into exile as the price of his freedom.
Press Release Jul 16, 2026 HRF and Reporters Without Borders Submit Urgent UN Updates on Imprisoned Crimean Citizen-Journalist Iryna Danylovych Arbitrarily detained by Russia since 2022, independent Crimean journalist Iryna Danilovych is enduring inhumane detention conditions and serious violations of her fundamental rights.
Press Release Jul 7, 2026 HRF Welcomes the Release of Pastor Ezra Jin NEW YORK (July 7, 2026) — This weekend, Pastor Jin “Ezra” Mingri of Zion Church was released after nearly nine months of arbitrary detention in China.
Press Release Jul 7, 2026 Joint Statement on Viet Nam’s Transnational Repression in Thailand While the EU recently elevated its relationship with Viet Nam to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, civic space within Viet Nam continues to shrink.
Press Release Jul 6, 2026 HRF welcomes UN opinion condemning Rwanda’s detention of opposition leader, Victoire Ingabire NEW YORK (July 6, 2026) — The Human Rights Foundation (HRF), Freedom Now, and the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights celebrate the decision of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), which finds that the detention of prominent Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire is arbitrary and in violation of international law.
Press Release Jun 4, 2026 HRF Urges Equatorial Guinea To Abide by UN Ruling and Release Lawyer and Activist Anacleto Micha Ndong Nlang The Human Rights Foundation (HRF), in partnership with fellow human rights organizations, has issued a joint letter calling on Equatorial Guinea’s ruler Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo to immediately release lawyer and activist Anacleto Micha Ndong Nlang from Oveng Azem Prison
Press Release May 30, 2026 Open to Debate and the Human Rights Foundation Debate the Ethics of Cooperating with China On June 1, veteran debate forum Open to Debate returns to the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway for their second debate in partnership with the Human Rights Foundation.
Press Release May 26, 2026 HRF Urges Jordan to Uphold Human Rights Obligations and Facilitate Travel for Whistleblower Abdullah Ibhais The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) calls on the Kingdom of Jordan to honor its international human rights obligations by ensuring that Abdullah Ibhais, a media strategy expert and Qatar FIFA World Cup whistleblower, can freely travel to speak at the Oslo Freedom Forum from June 1 to 3, 2026.
Press Release May 19, 2026 HRF submits a petition to the United Nations on behalf of Pastor Jin, Pastor Gao, and Pastor Wang in China NEW YORK (May 20, 2026) — Today, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted an individual complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) on behalf of Pastors Jin “Ezra” Mingri (金明日), Gao Yingjia (高颖佳), and Wang Lin (王林), who are all currently detained in China for exercising their freedom of religion.
Press Release May 13, 2026 Announcing the Winners of AI Hack for Freedom II This past weekend, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) sponsored the AI Hack for Freedom II, the second edition of a hackathon aimed at building powerful digital tools for pro-democracy movements.
Press Release May 12, 2026 HRF’s AI Fund Supports 10 Innovative Projects The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is pleased to announce 10 new grants from its AI for Individual Rights Fund.
Press Release May 10, 2026 Wife of Chinese Dissident Artist Gao Zhen Wishes Husband Happy 70th Birthday Today, May 10, 2026, is Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen’s 70th birthday, and he is spending it in a Chinese prison.
Press Release May 10, 2026 HRF Continues to Condemn the Detention of Gao Zhen on his 70th Birthday Today, May 10, 2026, is Gao Zhen’s 70th birthday, and he is spending it in a Chinese prison.
Press Release May 8, 2026 HRF Sponsors Second Edition of AI Hack for Freedom in Nashville, TN, May 9–10 The Human Rights Foundation is pleased to sponsor the AI Hack for Freedom II, taking place May 9–10 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Press Release Apr 1, 2026 HRF’s Bitcoin Development Fund Announces Support for 26 Projects Worldwide NEW YORK (April 1, 2026) — The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is pleased to announce grants totaling 1.5 billion satoshis from its Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF). This round of grants supports projects advancing open-source software development, Bitcoin research and educational initiatives, and financial privacy for the 6.2 billion people living under authoritarian regimes.
Press Release Apr 1, 2026 HRF submits UN petition on behalf of Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen NEW YORK (April 1, 2026) — Today, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted an individual complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) on behalf of Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen, urging the WGAD to declare his detention arbitrary and in violation of international law.
Press Release Mar 26, 2026 HRF Urges South Korea to Reaffirm Leadership on North Korean Human Rights at UN NEW YORK (March 25, 2026) — The Human Rights Foundation (HRF), in a joint letter with 23 organizations and six individual signatories, calls on South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung to ensure that his government co-sponsors the annual draft resolution on the human rights situation in North Korea at the 61st United Nations Human Rights Council.
Press Release Mar 23, 2026 HRF welcomes UN opinion condemning Cambodia’s detention of Koet Saray NEW YORK (March 23, 2026) — The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) welcomes the opinion issued by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) finding that Cambodia’s detention of activist Koet Saray violates international human rights law, following an HRF submission.
Press Release Mar 17, 2026 HRF succeeds in UN petition, India condemned for arbitrary detention NEW YORK (Mar. 17, 2026) — The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) welcomes the favorable opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), which found India’s detention of activist Umar Khalid to be arbitrary and in violation of international human rights law.