Human Rights First

What is xenophobia, and why does it matter? Understanding xenophobia is crucial because of its deep historical roots and its driving force behind anti-immigrant extremism today. It fuels hostility toward immigrants and asylum seekers, creating barriers to their safety, dignity, and inclusion. Educating ourselves is the first step in recognizing misinformation and xenophobia, enabling us to challenge hateful language and help prevent violence against immigrants. Learn more about how to identify and combat xenophobia and anti-immigrant extremism in our factsheet: https://lnkd.in/esFc9hAy

Be part of the fight to defend democracy, protect civil liberties, and ensure a future where human rights are upheld. Join our movement and volunteer your skills today: bit.ly/HRFVolunteer

Join us Thursday at 10am ET for our next #MagnitskyMonth panel, moderated by our Amanda Strayer. Panelists Brad Brooks-Rubin (Arktouros), Chloe Zoeller (Pan American Development Foundation), and Natalia Kubesch (REDRESS) will reflect on the Biden administration's mixed record on Global Magnitsky sanctions and identify the potentially significant changes in human rights and anti-corruption sanctions that the next administration might pursue. Register:

Read the latest by our attorneys Nina Moraitou-Politzi Amanda Strayer & Suchita Uppal in Just Security , arguing that #Magnitsky sanctions should be used to address all forms of #humantrafficking, not just those involving physical abuse. https://lnkd.in/e_QxmVvc From using technology to exploit #sextrafficking victims to gov’ts coercing labor by threatening to withhold public benefits, trafficking without physical abuse is prevalent. This too, should be a focus of the U.S. gov’t when imposing sanctions to address human trafficking.

I'm honored to have the opportunity to speak on a panel on how AI is shaping the future of education and community-based organizations. If you work with a community organization, non-profit, or any form of education this event is for you. Attendance is free, but requires pre-registration.

Join us on November 13, 10:00 am ET for the launch of our 2024 Magnitsky Month event series. Register now: https://lnkd.in/e8pjEKvf Authoritarian regimes around the world regularly use arbitrary detention as a tool of repression to silence dissidents, human rights defenders, journalists, and other perceived government critics and detain U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents as bargaining chips. Advocacy for their release often involves coalition building and engagement with multiple governments and legal mechanisms — from targeted Magnitsky-style sanctions, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the U.S. Levinson Act, and other domestic, regional, and international tools. This virtual panel of experts and individuals impacted by arbitrary detention will discuss how civil society can mobilize collective global action to counter these authoritarian tactics and advocate for the release of political prisoners and others arbitrarily detained around the world. Moderator: Adam Keith, Senior Director for Accountability at Human Rights First Panelists: 1) Evgenia Kara-Murza, International Advocacy Director at the Free Russia Foundation and spouse and advocate for the release of her husband, Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian dissident and former political prisoner who was arbitrarily detained in Russia for more than 2 years 2) Angelita Baeyens, Vice President of International Advocacy and Litigation at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights 3) Richard Ratcliffe, spouse and advocate for the release of his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian charity worker who was arbitrarily detained in Iran for six years

Donald Trump has been clear about his belief that he can act with impunity and his intention to disregard the rights of individuals. Believe him. At Human Rights First we won't let abuses go unchallenged. We will fight to uphold democratic ideals and institutions, safeguard human rights and civil liberties for all, resist efforts to weaponize the government, and hold individuals and institutions accountable. No one is above the law. Read our full statement from Human Rights First President and CEO, Sue Hendrickson, on the 2024 presidential election: https://lnkd.in/gfz_9RvF Join us and take action: https://lnkd.in/gSu8w7gW

It's #ElectionDay, and Human Rights First staff are turning out! The right to vote is sacred to our democracy and allows us to voice our opinions and shape our futures. Go out and vote today!

Asylum bans implemented by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice violate the human rights of asylum seekers. They punish people who enter without an appointment despite making it impossible for many people to try to schedule and wait for appointments because of language barriers, urgent safety concerns, and other obstacles. Submit a personalized message opposing asylum bans before the comment period closes on November 6:

Human Rights First's Associate Directors of Democracy Protection, Hanah Stiverson and Elizabeth Yates, tell us what's at stake for democracy and how to confront disinformation and voter suppression in the U.S. Learn more in their Q&A: