The Advocates For Human Rights
The mission of The Advocates for Human Rights is to implement international human rights standards to promote civil society and reinforce the rule of law. By involving volunteers in research, education, and advocacy, we build broad constituencies in the United States and select global communities.
Dr. Edwige Mubonzi is a general practitioner who lived and worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She performed surgeries for women and children who had been raped as a weapon of war. When news spread that Edwige was helping these rape victims, her life was threatened. She fled to the United States and applied for asylum. With The Advocates' staff and volunteer attorneys at her side, she was granted asylum.
Financials
Programs
Refugee and Immigrant Rights
We mobilize pro bono lawyers and professionals to represent and help asylum seekers, trafficking survivors, and immigrants in detention. We train volunteers to be court observers and monitor court practices. Last year we provided legal services in over 1,000 immigration matters and had over 400 court observers.
Women's Rights
We work to improve laws and policies to end discrimination and violence against women and girls. We partner with human rights defenders around the world to document human rights abuses, work for change, and train advocates for women’s human rights. We monitor domestic violence, sex trafficking, and sexual assault cases in the Twin Cities and work to create a fairer legal system. We share knowledge with advocates around the world.
International Justice
We work internationally to create systems change, strengthen accountability, raise awareness, foster tolerance, and help individuals realize their inherent human rights. We also support marginalized communities, such as LGBTI people and religious and ethnic minorities, and seek to abolish the death penalty.
Sankhu-Palubari Community School
We co-founded and support the Sankhu-Palubari Community School (SPCS) which provides a free education to at-risk children in Nepal. This year we are serving more than 360 children. Education helps protect these children from child labor and the threat of human trafficking.