New York / United States / 30 Priority Countries
We work with communities, institutions and partners where democratic, human rights and climate risks converge, connecting local voices to global decision-makers.
Our mission
ICDHRS defends democratic institutions, protects human dignity and advances environmental justice where they are most at risk, from our headquarters in New York to communities across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
Our programs combine research, advocacy and on-the-ground partnership across eight connected areas of work.
From our headquarters in New York, close to the United Nations, we monitor and support 30 Global Priority & Monitoring Countries where democratic, human rights and climate risks converge.
Selected for the overlap of development challenges, democratic or human rights concerns, environmental degradation and climate vulnerability.
Floods, drought, deforestation and pollution fall hardest on the communities with the least power to respond. In many of our priority countries, people who defend their land, water and forests face intimidation, legal harassment and violence.
ICDHRS documents environmental harm as a human rights issue, supports affected communities to be heard in decision-making, and presses governments and companies to meet their obligations, from the river deltas of Bangladesh to the Sahel.
Read our climate justice agenda
Photo: Unsplash (placeholder)
United Nations · Press release
Partners from 18 countries met in New York to set a shared agenda on civic space, climate accountability and the protection of human rights defenders.
Sahel · Report
United States · Op-Ed
There are many ways to stand with communities defending their rights and their future.
Support our work
Your gift funds independent monitoring, legal support and community-led action in the places that need it most.
ICDHRS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
