Press Release
Published on January 6, 2025
New York, NY– Human Rights First is pleased to announce that Joshua Colangelo-Bryan has joined the organization as Special Counsel. In this role Josh will spearhead innovative impact litigation, legal initiatives, and advocacy efforts to advance international human rights, uphold democratic principles, and support defenders of human rights globally.
“We are very excited to welcome Josh to the Human Rights First team,” said Sue Hendrickson, Human Rights First’s President and CEO. “Josh brings extensive expertise in creatively leveraging complex civil litigation, criminal law, and other legal tools and strategies to tackle human rights injustices. His leadership at this critical moment will enable us to expand our impact litigation and international human rights work, advancing our mission to protect and promote human rights.”
Josh joins Human Rights First from an international law firm where for more than 20 years he maintained a hybrid practice focused on pro bono work in human rights and national security, alongside criminal defense and complex civil litigation. His distinguished career includes representing Guantanamo Bay detainees in habeas proceedings, representing the victims of an attack by Turkish security personnel in Washington, D.C., and conducting human-rights investigations and related advocacy in countries such as Yemen, Lebanon, and Bahrain. He also served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, where he worked on the prosecution of war crimes and terrorism cases. Additionally, he has contributed to post-conflict humanitarian aid efforts in the Balkans.
A recognized expert in national security, human rights and criminal law matters, Josh has provided commentary to various media outlets, including CNN, Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, BBC World News, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, and Time. He has authored op-eds for publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Politico, and The Miami Herald. He has also spoken on these topics in multiple forums, including at the U.S. Congress, the U.K. House of Lords, and the United Nations.
“In this pivotal moment for human rights and the rule of law, I‘m honored to join Human Rights First,” said Josh. “I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to protect human rights and hold abusers accountable.”
