Association for Civil Rights in Israel

Description

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, ACRI, is a human and civil rights organization. Founded in 1972, it is Israel’s oldest and largest such organization. It works across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, defending the rights of everyone living there regardless of religion, nationality, gender, ethnicity or political affiliation.

ACRI pursues change through legal action, education and public engagement. Its legal department argues precedent-setting cases before the Supreme Court and seeks redress before district and labor courts, government ministries and Knesset committees. Its education department runs human rights training programs and produces curricula in Hebrew and Arabic, including a program on international humanitarian law for social activists, students and pre-military academies.

The organization also does policy advocacy, monitoring and advising on bills before the Knesset to protect civil and political rights. It publishes reports, information leaflets and position papers, and organizes lectures, conferences and public events on human rights issues. It runs a public hotline to help people whose rights have been infringed, and maintains what it describes as Israel’s largest collection of civil and human rights materials.

Its strategic focus areas include the Arab minority, migrants and refugees, the occupied Palestinian territories, and social, economic and political rights. ACRI is headquartered in Tel Aviv, with branches in Jerusalem and Nazareth.