Strategy Aramco Houston Marathon Campaign In January 2024, HRF launched a campaign during the 2024 Houston Marathon to protest Saudi Arabia’s sponsorship of the half-marathon event. HRF was present on the ground engaging with attendees and athletes to raise awareness of the Saudi regime’s human rights abuses.
Strategy Empty Box HRF joined grassroots activists and concerned global citizens to urge democratic nations to refuse to send official representation to the Beijing Olympics – to leave their Olympic box seats empty in protest.
Strategy Football Club Tracker HRF’ launched an interactive tool tracking the authoritarian regimes linked to football clubs in the five most popular leagues in the world. The tool debuted at the 2024 Oslo Freedom Forum.
Strategy Publications In 2024, the Combating Kleptocracy Program published the acclaimed book Foreign Agents, the first investigation into how the U.S.’s foreign lobbying industry has spent years aiding dictators, threatening democratic movements and entrenching despots around the world.
Strategy Podcast HRF’s “Dissidents and Dictators” podcast features voices from the frontline of the fight against dictatorship around the world, learning from their successes and highlighting their stories.
Strategy Original Investigations HRF’s Combating Kleptocracy Program conducts a range of original, ground-breaking research, such as on how the UAE’s dictatorship has authored the most successful political influence and interference campaign in the U.S.
Strategy Advocacy We advocate for human rights defenders through multi-pronged campaigns, videos, op-eds, and Universal Periodic Review submissions to the UN Human Rights Council, among other means. By drawing global attention to our clients’ cases, we increase pressure on regimes that suppress dissent by taking political prisoners, for instance. Our work shines a light on the injustices of authoritarianism.
Strategy Litigation We litigate on behalf of prisoners of conscience before international courts and semi-judicial bodies. Our team of international attorneys takes cases to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and other international bodies to secure positive outcomes for our clients. Using international law, we argue for our clients’ release, to ensure that their rights are respected.
