HUMAN RIGHTS · IRAN · UNITED STATES · AFRICA
Rights don’t stop at borders. Neither does the record.
Independent, source-first coverage of human rights in Iran, the United States and Africa. Every claim is sourced and dated, with a link to the original.
Three regions, one standard
United States
Detention and deaths in custody, federal enforcement, voting rights and free speech.
Africa
Sudan, eastern Congo, the Sahel and Ethiopia: atrocities, displacement and civic space.
Latest briefings and explainers
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Human Rights News Today: Iran, Massachusetts, Sudan and the ICC (2 October 2026)
A sourced roundup of human rights news from 25 September to 2 October 2026: Iran’s protest executions, ICE cases in Massachusetts, a voting ruling, Sudan, Ethiopia, DR Congo…
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Human Rights Explained: What Scholars Say About Origins, Debates and What Works
A plain-English guide to human rights drawing on leading scholars: where the idea came from, what experts debate, what the evidence says works, and voices from Africa, Iran…
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Africa: When protection is cut, the dangers return
UNHCR says 8.3 million refugees and displaced people risk losing assistance; Chad, Ethiopia and Sudan are among the places it points to.
How we source
Primary sources
We link to the UN, court documents and original reports, not to summaries of summaries.
Dated and attributed
Every claim has a named source and a date. Advocacy and exile-owned sources are labelled as such.
Corrected in the open
If we get something wrong, we fix it visibly. See how we work.
Follow the record
Sign up to hear when we publish a new briefing or report, then read the sources and share them, with the source and date, with family and colleagues.
ACTION MEMBERS
Join Action Members
Get occasional updates on how to take action on human rights in Boston and beyond. We only collect your email. We will never sell or share it.
WAYS TO VOLUNTEER
Find the place where you can help
Human rights work depends on people who show up, notice details, and keep a careful record. If you’re in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, or anywhere nearby, there’s room for you here. Here are some of the ways you can get involved. Pick one, or tell us what you’d rather do.
Research and fact-checking
Read sources, check names, dates and places, and trace claims back to where they came from. If you’re careful and like getting details right, this is for you.
Community outreach
Talk with neighbors, student groups, libraries, faith and cultural communities, and local organizations. Share what we’re doing, and listen to what people tell you.
Writing and translation
Draft and edit clear, plain-language pieces. Translate and review in Persian (Farsi), French, Arabic, Amharic, Swahili, and any other language you read and write well.
Events and tabling
Help set up, welcome people, and talk with visitors at community events and tables around Boston and nearby towns.
Design, web and social media
Make graphics, improve accessibility, help with WordPress, write captions and alt text, and keep our posts clear and easy to share.
Something else?
Photography, note-taking, interpreting, event logistics, a skill we didn’t list. If you think it could help, tell us about it.
What to send us
Send a short email. Four lines is plenty:
- Your name
- Your neighborhood or town
- Your skills, including any languages you speak, read, or write
- Hours per month you think you could give (a rough guess is fine)
Add anything else you’d like us to know: what draws you to this work, a link to your portfolio, or the kind of role you have in mind.
NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED
You don’t have to be an expert
You don’t need a background in law, human rights, or activism. If you’re curious, careful, and willing to learn, we want to hear from you. Students, retirees, newcomers to Boston, long-time residents, and people who work other jobs are all welcome. Tell us what you’re comfortable with and what you’d like to try.