About the Campaign for an NHRI in the US

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The United States' role as a global advocate for human rights is well-established. From the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to active participation in efforts to establish human rights mechanisms around the world, the US has been a vocal advocate, helping to set standards and promote rule of law around the world.  Here at home, the embrace of a human rights framework has been slower to take hold.

For decades, civil society advocates have been working to ensure that the United States fully lives up to its human rights commitments. Various networks have been founded to help promote human rights accountability and the language of human rights has been promoted as part of efforts to effect social change. But with all of those efforts, the US government has not similarly integrated human rights as a domestic concept - despite its obligations to make its international treaty obligations real through integration with domestic law.  Despite ratifying a variety of wide-ranging human rights treaties focused on civil and political rights, the elimination of racial discrimination, and ending torture, the US has does not have a coordinated plan or even a center of responsibility to implement (or provide oversight) for those obligations.

It's time for that to change.

Founded in 2023, the Campaign for an NHRI in the United States is led by a constantly growing coalition of civil and human rights organizations from around the United States.  The Campaign seeks to establish a National Human Rights Institution in the US to enable the US to fully realize and respects its human rights commitments.