What we do

IPHR takes a holistic, victim-centred approach to addressing transnational repression (TNR). We document cases, provide direct and emergency support to people targeted across borders, strengthen the capacity of relevant authorities and civil society, and advocate for stronger policies and legislation to prevent and respond to TNR.

IPHR has a dedicated programme providing emergency support to human rights defenders, activists, journalists and others targeted by Russian government agents or their proxies abroad. The programme provides tailored assistance to individuals facing acute threats, helping them respond to immediate security risks and access the support they need. We also deliver intensive physical security training for exiled Russian human rights defenders, activists and journalists. Through our Training of Trainers programme, we have equipped more than three dozen security specialists with the skills to support at-risk communities.

We conduct in-depth investigations into Russian state-sponsored transnational repression, including in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy, and work with EU and Council of Europe institutions to strengthen regional responses.

IPHR also leads ENACT-RE, a project funded through the EU’s CERV programme. ENACT-RE aims at strengthening the ability of civil society and state actors across the EU to identify, prevent and respond to foreign state-led coercion and harassment of dissidents. The project develops practical tools and protocols for civil society organisations, protection actors, national human rights institutions and local authorities.

At the heart of our mission, we establish partnerships with local civil society actors and support their endeavours to advance justice, human rights, and the rule of law in their respective countries. This support takes the form of collaborative activities and initiatives aimed at fostering positive change.

We develop and implement joint projects with local civil society partners, carry out joint activities with them on agreed priority issues, and provide tailored assistance and capacity building depending on their needs. We work with both well-established civil society organisations and emerging and grassroots initiatives, and our capacity-building encompasses both expert-led training sessions and hands-on cooperation.  

We also support networking and coalition-building among civil society groups from different countries and facilitate cross-country cooperation on countering human rights violations. 

We collaborate with local partners to research and document human rights violations in targeted countries. Our findings are disseminated through various publications like statements, reports, and submissions to international bodies.

We use our publications to inform key stakeholders and broader audiences about the evolving human rights situation in the countries where we work. Our publications serve as essential tools in our advocacy and communications efforts, aiming to garner support for pressing human rights causes.

Fact-finding missions are an important part of our research and documentation activities and we prioritise efforts to investigate and document human rights violations committed in conflict and crisis situations.

Together with partners, we carry out focused, targeted and impact-oriented advocacy with international institutions and governments to inform and influence their policies on human rights issues in our target countries.

Our engagement encompasses the EU, Council of Europe, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United Nations, and other institutions and governments.

We continue diversifying our communication channels and strengthening our outreach approach to effectively disseminate information about human rights issues in our target countries, communicate our positions on current developments in these countries and mobilise support for our calls among broader target audiences. 

Being aware that crises can emerge suddenly and without warning, IPHR maintains an organisational posture characterised by flexibility and adaptability, allowing us to mobilise quickly to address evolving situations in our region.

We’ve activated this crisis response capacity repeatedly in recent years, not only in the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but also following the the suppression of mass protests in Central Asia in 2022 (the ‘Bloody January’ in Kazakhstan and the events in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region in Tajikistan and in the Republic of Karakalpakstan in Uzbekistan), Lukashenka’s 2020-2021 crackdown on protest in Belarus, the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh and subsequent clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan and other crises in the region where we work.  

Our crisis response initiatives typically consist of three parts: (i) emergency support to partners at risk, such as operational support, resilience-building, or emergency relocation; (ii) multidisciplinary investigation of suspected human rights violations; and (iii) strategic follow-ups, including advocacy, accountability-seeking and provision of tailored support to survivors and witnesses.

IPHR supports strategic litigation on key human rights issues in our target countries and uses international, regional, and domestic accountability mechanisms to help end impunity for serious human rights violations in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia.

Our holistic approach to accountability encompasses a set of mutually reinforcing strategies, including field documentation of IHL and ICL violations, OSINT analysis, in-house legal research, followed by strategic litigation and advocacy.

IPHR also conducts capacity building of local actors on international accountability mechanisms.

We work with our partners – both well-established organisations and grassroots initiatives – to improve respect for the rights of groups and individuals who are among those most vulnerable to human rights violations. We campaign in support of human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and bloggers facing persecution; individuals subjected to torture, unfair trials and punitive imprisonment; ethnic, sexual, religious and other minorities; and people affected by inequality, discrimination and violence, including gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual violence. We also assist and defend the rights of those exposed to gross human rights violations during conflicts and crises, as well as individuals and communities suffering environmental harm.