U.S. Advocacy and Litigation

The U.S. Advocacy and Litigation program partners with grassroots human rights defenders to reduce the scope and power of mass incarceration in American society.

Together, we fight for changes to the criminal and immigration systems that guarantee respect for everyone’s human rights.

Everyone deserves fair and equal treatment from police, no matter race or color. We defend the human right to freedom from racial discrimination.

Everyone deserves to be treated by police with respect for their inherent dignity. We defend the human right to freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

Everyone deserves to be able to safely interact with police. We defend the human right to freedom from extrajudicial killings.


We go to court with human rights defenders pursuing systemic change.


We uncover wrongdoing in reports, complaints, and public hearings.


We inform the public and policymakers about systemic human rights abuses and how to stop them.