Human Rights Initiative

The CSIS Human Rights Initiative, launched in 2014, promotes a proactive, resilient global human rights agenda that reinforces democratic values as a central component of a comprehensive foreign policy

It seeks to generate innovative solutions for government, civil society, and the private sector to build respect for human rights and works to integrate human rights priorities across U.S. foreign policy interests. Current focus areas for the Human Rights Initiative include exploring how respect for human rights can help build sustainable and inclusive democracies; analyzing how to align and leverage private sector interests to further human rights priorities; and responding to egregious current human rights abuses.

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Building Sustainable and Inclusive Democracy

The HRI analyzes how the United States and other like-minded governments can build a resilient, proactive human rights agenda—one that helps inoculate liberal democratic institutions against contemporary threats, and affirms the strategic value of integrating human rights across U.S. foreign policy priorities

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Technology and Human Rights

The Human Rights Initiative considers both the promise and threat that technology poses for human rights and how it impacts civil society

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Business and Human Rights

The HRI aims to reshape the thinking of governments and businesses on the role of the private sector in strengthening human rights protections around the world, raising expectations of companies to respect international norms, and pressing for accountability by governments when they do not

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Responding to Egregious Human Rights Abuses

The Human Rights Initiative analyzes and draws attention to situations where widespread human rights abuses are occurring or likely, and strives to propose policy solutions and illuminate comparative lessons learned

Featured Video

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Human Rights in 2025: The 75th International Human Rights Day

On the 75th International Human Rights Day, Andrew Friedman and Anne Frederick share the history the day, why we observe it, and the state of human rights in the world today.

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Featured Analysis

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Photo: AlinStock/Adobe Stock

How Civil Society Exposes the Human Rights Risks of the Digital Silk Road

Emboldened authoritarian actors are no longer content to repress human rights in their own countries, but feel confident in their ability to share their tactics and technology across borders. Local civil society organizations stand at the front line against these mounting threats.

Commentary by Andrew Friedman — January 27, 2026

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A New Landscape for Development

Join the CSIS Global Development Department for the launch of A New Landscape for Development. This event will examine recent U.S. foreign assistance shifts and what they mean for the future of global development.

Event — February 10, 2026

How Civil Society Exposes the Human Rights Risks of the Digital Silk Road

Emboldened authoritarian actors are no longer content to repress human rights in their own countries, but feel confident in their ability to share their tactics and technology across borders. Local civil society organizations stand at the front line against these mounting threats.

Commentary by Andrew Friedman — January 27, 2026

Opting Out: United States to Stop Engaging with More UN Entities

Prioritizing and refining the coalitions and organizations an administration engages with makes sense, but budget cuts and an anti-multilateralism philosophy come with risks and mean a broader rupture is likely still on the horizon.

Commentary by Allison Lombardo — January 15, 2026

A New Landscape for Development: Examining Impacts, Capabilities, and Opportunities

Cuts to foreign assistance have been among the most sweeping changes of the second Trump administration. This compendium dives deep into the impacts on fields across the development ecosystem and potential opportunities within this new landscape.

Digital Report by Hadeil Ali, Andrew Friedman, Noam Unger, J. Stephen Morrison, Katherine E. Bliss, Romina Bandura, Caitlin Welsh, David Michel, Rose Parker, and Joely Virzi — November 13, 2025