Human Rights Watch
Budget
€110,392,364
EP Access
7
accredited persons
Staff
9
5.95 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is a nonprofit, nongovernmental human rights organization made up of roughly 500 people of 70-plus nationalities who are country experts, lawyers, journalists, and others who work to protect the most at risk, from vulnerable minorities and civilians in wartime, to refugees and children in need. Established in 1978, HRW is known for its accurate fact-finding, impartial reporting, effective use of media, and targeted advocacy, often in partnership with local human rights groups. Human Rights Watch meets with governments, the United Nations, regional groups like the African Union and the European Union, financial institutions, and corporations to press for changes in policy and practice that promote human rights and justice around the world. To ensure our independence, we refuse government funding and carefully review all donations to ensure that they are consistent with our policies, mission, and values.
EU Legislative Interests
HRW’s work in Brussels focuses on EU internal and external policies, migration and refugee rights, environmental issues, economic justice, disability rights, LGBT rights, and international justice. Among specific legislative proposals, HRW is working on Reform of the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP); Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD); Regulation on Deforestation-free products (EUDR) and Regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market.
Communication Activities
HRW staff are often invited to testify before the European Parliament, and frequently interact with EU and member states officials. HRW also often publishes products focused on EU policy developments, and/or calling for EU action to prevent or address the abuses we document. All our EU-related publications are available at: https://www.hrw.org/europe/central-asia/european-union.
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
- Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN) - Website: https://hrdn.eu/ The Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN) is an informal grouping of NGOs operating at EU level in the broader areas of human rights, democracy and conflict prevention. The vision of the HRDN is that human rights and democracy are placed at the heart of the European Union's internal and external policy agenda. This vision should manifest itself in a European Union that effectively protects human rights at home and is a force for positive change in the world. In pursuit of this vision, the network aims to influence EU and member state human rights policies and the programming of their funding instruments to promote democracy, human rights and sustainable peace. Participation in the network is open to non-governmental organizations which engage at EU level in the promotion of human rights, democracy and conflict prevention in and outside the EU. Recognised by the EU institutions, HRDN is routinely invited to brief and advise policymakers and officials in our areas of expertise. HRDN is also the EU’s official partner in the organisation of the annual EU NGO Forum on Human Rights. The network consists of 67 members, all of whom are registered in the EU transparency register, and abide by other aspects of our Rules of Engagement as published on the website. - Crisis Action - Website: https://crisisaction.org/ Crisis Action is an international, non-profit organisation which aims to help avert conflicts, prevent human rights abuses and ensure governments fulfil their obligations to protect civilians. Crisis Action works behind the scenes to support a diverse range of partners who are all concerned with tackling the immediate effects or long-term consequences of conflict. We aim to help them increase the impact of their responses to current and emerging conflict-related crises. - Fundamental Rights Platform - Website: https://fra.europa.eu/en/cooperation/civil-society Launched by the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) in 2008, the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP) is a network for cooperation and information exchange, set to act as the main channel for the FRA to engage civil society and to ensure a close cooperation between the Agency and relevant stakeholders. - HRC-Net - Website: https://ishr.ch/defenders-toolbox/hrcnet/ The HRC-NET is a cross-regional network of human rights organizations from around the world that aims to share information and advocate at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). The network was established in 2007. - EuroMed Rights - Website: https://euromedrights.org/ EuroMed Rights is one of the largest and most active networks of human rights organisations in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Founded in 1997, EuroMed Rights encompasses 68 organisations from 30 countries. Its work is aimed at promoting and protecting human rights and democracy in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean regions and at influencing the policies of major European actors towards these areas. - Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region - Website: https://enduyghurforcedlabour.org/ The Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region is a coalition of civil society organisations and trade unions united to end state-sponsored forced labour and other egregious human rights abuses against people from the Uyghur Region in China, known to local people as East Turkistan. - Cotton Campaign - Website: https://www.cottoncampaign.org/about - Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) - Website: https://responsiblemining.net
Organisation Members
Human Rights Watch is not a membership-based NGO. See Website, "About Us" https://www.hrw.org/about/about-us.
Additional Information
HRW's total budget for the year 2023-2024 is 119,400,381 USD (covering the 12-month period from July 2023 to June 2024). Based on a rate of 1.0816, this refers to a total budget of 110,392,364 EUR. All HRW financial data is publicly available at: https://www.hrw.org/financials. No individual donor provides up to 10% of our total budget. For more detailed information, see our published 'Consolidated Financial Report' (June 30, 2024), here: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media_2025/05/2024_Audited_Financial_Statements.pdf.
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.