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.
Contact
- Lauren Burke
- Program Manager and Research Associate, Human Rights Initiative
- 202.775.3286
- LBurke@csis.org
Media Queries
- H. Andrew Schwartz
- Chief Communications Officer
- 202.775.3242
- aschwartz@csis.org
- Paige Montfort
- Media Relations Manager, External Relations
- 202.775.3173
- pmontfort@csis.org
Featured Analysis

Photo: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
To Build Resilient Global Supply Chains, Incorporate Respect for Human Rights
Failure to address human rights abuses will undermine government and private sector efforts to build sustainability and resilience into global supply chains.
Commentary by Marti Flacks and Catherine Zou — December 16, 2022

Tracked: Stories at the Intersection of Migration, Technology, and Human Rights
Digital Report by Lauren Burke , Erol Yayboke , Marti Flacks , and Anastasia Strouboulis — December 15, 2022

Responding to Egregious Abuses in Xinjiang: Latest State of Play
Transcript — December 7, 2022

How Supporting Democracy Benefits the U.S.-India Partnership
Commentary by Barbara Smith and Marti Flacks — November 1, 2022

Addressing the Continuing Phenomenon of Enforced Disappearances
Report by Diane Webber and Khaola Sherani — August 18, 2022
Past Events

Responding to Egregious Abuses in Xinjiang: Latest State of Play

Dead, Detained or Stateless

Forced Labor Around the World

Advancing LGBTQIA+ Rights via U.S. Foreign Policy
All content by Human Rights Initiative
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Discussion on UNODC's Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2022
Event by Erol Yayboke , Marti Flacks , Ambassador Cindy Dyer , Angela Me , Ilias Chatzis , and Desirée Suo Weymont — February 1, 2023

Responding to Egregious Abuses in Xinjiang: Latest State of Play
Event by Marti Flacks , Robert Silvers , Omer Kanat , Laura Murphy , and Cynthia Whittenberg — December 6, 2022

Dead, Detained or Stateless
Event by Diane Webber , Marti Flacks , and David Stewart — September 26, 2022

Forced Labor Around the World
Event — September 15, 2022

Advancing LGBTQIA+ Rights via U.S. Foreign Policy
Event by Marti Flacks , Hadeil Ali , Jessica Stern , Jay Gilliam , Dr. Chloe Schwenke , and Stephen Chukwumah — June 30, 2022

International Norms under Pressure: State Compliance with International Humanitarian & Human Rights Law
Event by John J. Hamre , J. Stephen Morrison , Marti Flacks , Cordula Droege , Oona Hathaway , and Chanaka Wickremasinghe — May 20, 2022

U.S. and European Strategies to Tackle Human Rights in Global Supply Chains
Event by Marti Flacks , Heidi Hautala , Thea Lee , Barbara Küppers , David McKean , Michael Anthony , and Sabine Muscat — May 10, 2022

Russia’s Crackdown on Independent Media and Access to Information Online
Event by Marti Flacks , Vera Zakem , Jamie Fly , Daniel Baer , Maria Snegovaya , and Andrew Lohsen — March 29, 2022

Rights Revoked: The State of Human Rights in Afghanistan After Six Months of Taliban Rule
Event by Marti Flacks , Heather Barr , Anne Richard , Rina Amiri , and Horia Mosadiq — March 2, 2022

What’s next for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan?
Event by Annie Pforzheimer , Nilofar Sakhi , James B. Cunningham , and Mark Bowden — February 24, 2022
