Human Rights First

TO EMPOWER AMERICANS TO WORK FOR JUSTICE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES AND AROUND THE WORLD.

PROTECTING REFUGEESHUMAN RIGHTS FIRSTS REFUGEE REPRESENTATION TEAM PROMOTES HUMAN RIGHTS BY ASSISTING REFUGEES WHO ARE FLEEING PERSECUTION. WE PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION, FREQUENTLY WITH PRO BONO LAWYERS, TO HELP OUR CLIENTS ACCESS LEGAL PROTECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES CONSISTENT WITH U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL LAW. WE ALSO ASSIST OUR CLIENTS IN ACCESSING OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES. WE USE THIS EXPERIENCE TO ADVOCATE FOR LAWS AND POLICIES THAT PROTECT REFUGEES.IN 2021, VOLUNTEER LAWYERS IN THE NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN AREAS PROVIDED MORE THAN 58,000 HOURS OF IN-KIND LEGAL SERVICES. DURING THAT PERIOD, WE REPRESENTED MORE THAN 1,057 PEOPLE FROM 69 COUNTRIES AND WON LEGAL PROTECTION FOR 89 CLIENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. WE ALSO CONDUCTED 15 PRO BONO ATTORNEY TRAININGS, EQUIPPING OVER 648 ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT ASYLUM CLIENTS.AMONG THE KEY 2021 POLICY ACHIEVEMENTS RESULTING FROM OUR ADVOCACY TO PROTECT REFUGEES WERE THE FOLLOWING: SPEARHEADED ADVOCACY ON THE EVACUATION OF AFGHANS WHO ASSISTED U.S. OPERATIONS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS TO U.S. TERRITORY FOLLOWING THE U.S. TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN WORKED WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO CREATE A PLAN AND PATHWAY TO THE UNITED STATES CALLED OPERATIONS PROMISES KEPT. CREATED THE EVACUATE OUR ALLIES COALITION, A COALITION OF OVER 200 ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADVANCES GOVERNMENT ACTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO FULFILL PROMISES OF SAFE PASSAGE, WELCOME, AND PROTECTION FOR AT-RISK AFGHANS FOLLOWING THE DECADES-LONG U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN. CONDUCTED VARIOUS PUBLIC ADVOCACY, INCLUDING A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, A RALLY IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE, AND A GRASSROOTS ACTION WHERE WE GARNERED OVER 7,000 SIGNATURES TO SHED LIGHT ON THIS ISSUE. LAUNCHED A HUGE GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE FALL OF KABUL, CREATING TOOLKITS, CONSTITUENT MEETING GUIDES, FACTSHEETS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS FOR THOUSANDS OF VETERANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WORKED WITH VARIOUS IMMIGRATION EXPERTS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPLEMENT ROBUST IMMIGRATION REFORM, INCLUDING ENDING TITLE 42 EXPULSIONS, ENDING MIGRANT PROTECTION PROTOCOLS, AND REPEALING THE MUSLIN BAN. OUR RESEARCH AND REPORTING ON THE HARM INFLICTED BY THE REMAIN IN MEXICO PROGRAM, ALONG WITH ADVOCACY BY THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS ALLIES, HELPED PERSUADE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO BEGIN TO WIND DOWN AND OFFICIALLY END THE PROGRAM, AND TO ISSUE A MEMORANDUM TO RE-TERMINATE IT (WHICH CITED HUMAN RIGHTS FIRSTS RESEARCH) AFTER A COURT RULING THAT LED TO ITS RESTART. OUR ADVOCACY AND LITIGATION HELPED ENCOURAGE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE STEPS TO END HARMFUL AND ILLEGAL ASYLUM COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.DONATED LEGAL AND RELATED EXPENSES: $58,999,359

ACCOUNTABILTY, NATIONAL SECURITY, FOREIGN POLICY AND COMMUNCATION & OUTREACHACCOUNTABILITY - HUMAN RIGHTS FIRSTS ACCOUNTABILITY TEAM WORKS TO HOLD CORRUPT ACTORS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS AROUND THE WORLD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. KEY 2021 ACHIEVEMENTS RESULTING FROM OUR ADVOCACY INCLUDE: HELPED SECURE U.S. SANCTIONS AGAINST MORE THAN 70 INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES INVOLVED IN SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES OR CORRUPTION (FOR EXAMPLE, IN BANGLADESH, CHINA, MALTA, AND ANGOLA), AND NEW U.S. VISA RESTRICTION PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON THE ANGLOPHONE CRISIS IN CAMEROON, AND GLOBAL ATTACKS AGAINST JOURNALISTS AND DISSIDENTS (THE KHASHOGGI BAN). ORGANIZED A MAJOR CONFERENCE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPREAD OF MAGNITSKY-STYLE SANCTIONS. HELPED TO FACILITATE THE ADOPTION OF AN ANTI-CORRUPTION SANCTIONS REGIME IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND AUSTRALIA. HELPED SECURE CONTINUED APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE STATE AND TREASURY OFFICES RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING TARGETED SANCTIONS. SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR THE REVERSAL OF U.S. SANCTIONS TARGETING THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AND OF A SECRET U.S. DECISION TO LIFT SANCTIONS ON A NOTORIOUS FINANCIER IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO.NATIONAL SECURITY CALLED OUT WHITE SUPREMACY, RACISM, ANTISEMITISM, AND XENOPHOBIA IN OUR MILITARY AND WORKED WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS ON RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING HIGHLIGHTING EXTREMISM IN THE MILITARY WITH VARIOUS PRESS OUTLETS. CREATED WORKING GROUPS OF VETERAN LEADERS TACKLING WHITE VIOLENT EXTREMISM. CALLED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR JANUARY 6TH AND HELPED SECURE THE CREATION OF A JANUARY 6TH COMMISSION. CREATED MESSAGING GUIDANCE FOR GRASSROOTS NETWORK PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE INSURRECTION. WORKED TO CURB THE MILITARIZATION OF POLICE BY REINING IN THEIR ABILITY TO ACQUIRE MILITARY-GRADE EQUIPMENT THROUGH A SERIES OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS. PREVENTED THE TRANSFER OF NEW DETAINEES TO THE DETENTION FACILITIES AT GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA. HELPED SECURE THE TRANSFER OF ONE GUANTANAMO DETAINEE AND THE CLEARANCE FOR TRANSFER OF EIGHT GUANTANAMO DETAINEES. HELPED SECURE LEGISLATION OVERHAULING THE MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM AIMED AT COMBATING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE RANKS. FOREIGN POLICY HELPED SECURE THE PASSAGE OF THE TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION ACCOUNTABILITY AND PREVENTION (TRAP) ACT. DOCUMENTED TORTURE IN EGYPTS PRISON SYSTEM AND PRODUCED A REPORT ON HOW IT DRIVES RECRUITMENT FOR ISIS. WORKED WITH FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND CONFLICT TO PRESS FOR JUSTICE FOR THOSE KILLED AND INJURED AND HELPED ORGANIZE A PANEL OF EXPERTS TO SIT IN 2022 TO ACT AS A TRUTH TRIBUNAL.DONATED LEGAL AND RELATED EXPENSES: $2,054,772

INNOVATION LABTHE HUMAN RIGHTS FIRSTS INNOVATION LAB HARNESSES AI AND DATA-DRIVEN TECHNOLOGY TO DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY. IT BUILDS AND RELEASES TECHNOLOGY TOOLS, APPLIES ITS TECH AND INSIGHTS TO DRIVE DIRECT IMPACT, AND EDUCATES AND TRAINS THE BROADER FIELD ON USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO PROTECT RIGHTS. KEY 2021 ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE: COMPLETED BETA TESTING OF A NEW TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATORS TO DETECT AND ANALYZE VIOLENCE IN VIDEO. COMPLETED BETA TESTING OF A NEW TECHNOLOGY TOOL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATORS TO UNCOVER DISINFORMATION AND HATE-BASED CONTENT ON YOUTUBE. USED OUR TOOLS, DATA, AND INSIGHTS TO COMBAT DOMESTIC VIOLENT EXTREMISM ACTIVITY, BY PRESENTING TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ON HOW FAR-RIGHT VIOLENT EXTREMIST GROUPS RADICALIZE AND ORGANIZE ONLINE, REPORTING MULTIPLE DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS ON MAJOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND EXPOSING A MAJOR COORDINATED DIGITAL ATTACK ON U.S. JOURNALISTS BY U.S. NEO-NAZI GROUPS. SUPPORTED OVER 50 CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND GLOBALLY TO UTILIZE OUR TOOLS TO: COMBAT MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS THAT UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY; PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM POLITICAL VIOLENCE; PROTECT FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS; AND INVESTIGATE ILLEGAL VIOLENCE ENACTED BY BOTH STATES AND VIOLENT EXTREMIST ORGANIZATIONS.DONATED LEGAL AND RELATED EXPENSES: $842,667