Human Rights First
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Human Rights First is a New York City-based association formerly known as the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights.
The organization works on a host of domestic and international rights from a legal perspective. The organization focuses pointedly on issues related to detainees. Along with the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights First is currently suing former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on behalf of four Iraqis and four Afghans previously detained by the U.S. military.
Founded in 1978, Human Rights First also works on a range of other issues, including asylum seekers in the United States, international refugee policy, genocide intervention, and protecting human rights workers abroad.
Human Rights First has issued numerous reports on human rights issues and has contributed amicus curiae briefs in support of foreign nationals held by the United States without charges. The President is Michael H. Posner, Maureen Byrnes is the Executive Director. The chairman of the Board emeritus was founder Marvin Frankel. Current Board members include Kerry Kennedy, Harold Hongju Koh, and Sigourney Weaver.
