Human Rights Activists in Iran

Description

Human Rights Activists in Iran, also known as HRA or HRAI, is a non-governmental organization defending and promoting human rights inside Iran.

It was founded in 2006 in Iran by Keyvan Rafiee and later restructured as a US registered charity after members were arrested and forced into exile. It now describes itself as headquartered in the United States, with a large network of trained volunteers and documentarians inside Iran. Its news agency HRANA, launched in 2009, is the first specialized Persian language human rights news service and produces a large share of firsthand reports on Iran’s human rights situation.

The organization documents violations, offers pro bono legal representation and support to political prisoners and their families, and runs advocacy campaigns aimed at accountability. It briefs international bodies such as the UN Human Rights Committee, the European Parliament and the US Congress, and partners with other civil society groups, legislators and journalists. Initiatives include Spreading Justice, a database profiling alleged human rights violators, Kardanan, a labour rights legal clinic, and a documentation project on the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

It also produces educational materials, including books on international labour law and on documenting human rights violations, along with regular annual, monthly and event based reports. It states it maintains neutrality and avoids political, religious, ethnic or gender bias, and says women make up half of its workforce and leadership.