Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum

The Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum project grew out of a November 2003 conference convened by the Carter Center that sought to examine the protection of human rights in the context of the “war on terror.” It is envisaged that every year the Forum will address new topics of concern to human rights activists around the world.

Most importantly, the Forum provides defenders regular opportunities to present their concerns and recommendations directly to major international news organizations and senior U.S. policy makers, whose decisions affect human rights conditions around the globe in ways that are often overlooked in the policy making process.