A world of democratic societies in which we all enjoy our civil and political rights.

Civil Rights Defenders is a politically and religiously independent human rights organisation. We partner with and support human rights defenders who work in some of the world’s most repressive regions.

We work on four continents. Our headquarters is located in Stockholm, and we have eight regional branch-offices around the world. Civil Rights Defenders was founded as the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in 1982.

Our team

Civil Rights Defenders has around 100 staff members and operates in over 50 countries around the world. 

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Join us

Apply for our open positions, internships or traineeships, or connect with us and register your profile.

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Board of Directors

Civil Rights Defenders has an independent, non-profit Board of Directors.

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Contact

Our way of working

Vision and mission

Civil Rights Defenders’ overarching vision is “a world of democratic societies where we all enjoy our civil and political rights”.

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Strategy and goals

Stopping and reversing the decline of human rights and democracy is possible. But doing so requires us to be stronger and more innovative than ever. Here is our strategy 2023-2030.

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Governing documents

Civil Rights Defenders is a non-profit organisation controlled by Swedish Fundraising Control. In our annual reports and effect reports you can read more about our work and financing.

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Our story

Civil Rights Defenders was founded as the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in 1982 with the purpose of monitoring compliance with the human rights provisions of the Helsinki Final Act.

In 2009, the organisation was renamed Civil Rights Defenders.

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Our team

Civil Rights Defenders has more than 100 staff members and operates in over 50 countries around the world. The work is led by the Executive Director, the Executive Office, the Management Team, and staff members, who implement the strategic decisions of the Board of Directors.

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Our funding

Our work is financed by governmental organisations, the Swedish Postcode Lottery, foundations, and through corporate partnerships, as well as contributions from individual private donors. Civil Rights Defenders is a registered Swedish nonprofit organisation that is religiously and politically unaffiliated. Our work is controlled by Swedish Fundraising Control.

Svenska Postkodlotteriet logotyp

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Erasmus+ Project

By working through Erasmus+ with a pedagogical approach and strategic leadership that develops our skills and at the same time strengthens us to be a more resilient organisation that can swiftly adjusts to current and future challenges.

Learn more about Erasmus+ Project