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: WOLFGANG RATTAY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Operationalizing the G7 Commitment to End Forced Labor in Global Supply Chains
G7 member states should seize the opportunity to leverage their market influence in a coordinated way to address egregious forced labor abuses.
Commentary by Marti Flacks and Steven Orientale — May 31, 2023

Reflecting on Rana Plaza: The Evolution of Corporate Engagement on Human Rights in Supply Chains since the 2013 disaster
Transcript — April 24, 2023

The UDHR at 75: A Conversation with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk
Transcript — April 18, 2023

The Potential Legacy of the Summit for Democracy Process
Commentary by Marti Flacks — March 21, 2023

The ICC Wants Putin. Now What?
Critical Questions by Marti Flacks — March 20, 2023
Past Events

Reflecting on Rana Plaza: The Evolution of Corporate Engagement on Human Rights in Supply Chains since the 2013 disaster

The UDHR at 75: A Conversation with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk

The 2023 Forum on Business and Democracy

Promise and Peril: Migration Management Technologies in West Africa and Central America
All content by Human Rights Initiative
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Humanitarian Crisis
Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz , Marti Flacks , and Erol Yayboke — March 3, 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
Will There Be Accountability for Russian Abuses in Ukraine?
Commentary by Marti Flacks — February 28, 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
Reeling In Abuse
Report by Marti Flacks , Jacqueline Lewis , and David McKean — February 15, 2022
Experts React: The 2021 Summit for Democracy
Commentary — December 16, 2021
Blockchain Technology: Human Rights Risks & Opportunities
Event by Marti Flacks , James Andrew Lewis , William Crumpler , Giulio Coppi , Mariam Turashvili , Trent Larson , and Isabel Ebert — December 15, 2021
The Human Rights Risks and Opportunities in Blockchain
Report by William Crumpler — December 14, 2021
Advocates for Democracy in Closed Spaces
Event by and Daniel F. Runde , Elizabeth Hoffman , Marti Flacks , Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) , Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) , Ambassador Isobel Coleman , Anna Dobrovolskaya , Glacier Kwong , Sopheap Chak , Luciano Garcia , Alex Magaisa — December 6, 2021
A Good Business Model: Commitments the Private Sector Can Make to Support Democracy
Commentary by Marti Flacks and Barbara Smith — October 28, 2021