Impact Litigation
Impact Litigation

About

Our Impact Litigation team provides pro bono international legal representation to prisoners of conscience whose cases are emblematic examples of the brutality of dictatorships.

In authoritarian regimes, there is no separation of powers, resulting in a lack of judicial independence. Legal proceedings are a mere formality, and critics of the regime are often harassed, arrested, detained, tortured, and forcibly disappeared. They are unable to seek independent judicial review and obtain redress domestically.

HRF’s Impact Litigation program addresses the inadequacies of judicial systems in authoritarian regimes, offers remedies for pursuing justice, and provides urgent humanitarian relief to victims.

Our Strategy

Advocacy

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.
Litigation

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.

Our Impact

complaints and urgent appeals submitted on behalf of victims
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countries represented through our complaints and urgent appeals
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Universal Periodic Reviews submitted to the UN Human Rights Council
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Dare to Dissent

Dare to Dissent is a video series that tells the stories of the brave individuals we have represented before the UNWGAD and other mechanisms. The videos shed light on their cases and the human rights abuses they have endured.

News & Media

Impact Litigation - News - Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi Has Death Sentence Overturned, Faces Retrial V1
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Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi Has Death Sentence Overturned, Faces Retrial
Jun 22, 2024
Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye: Senegal opposition leaders freed days before election
BBC
Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye: Senegal opposition leaders freed days before election
Mar 15, 2024
Russia has stifled another Putin opponent. Here’s how the West might help him header image
Russia has stifled another Putin opponent. Here’s how the West might help him
Apr 28, 2023
Saudi woman given 34-year prison sentence for using Twitter
Saudi woman given 34-year prison sentence for using Twitter
Aug 16, 2022

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