Center for Human Rights in Iran

What Center for Human Rights in Iran does

The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) is a Brooklyn, New York-based nonprofit organization founded in 2009 (formerly the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, rebranded in 2019) that documents and exposes systematic human rights violations inside Iran. The organization operates a lean staff of approximately 8 employees led by Executive Director Hadi Ghaemi, with a documented pipeline of daily contact with Iranian sources inside the country who provide firsthand accounts of state atrocities, protest crackdowns, executions, and civil rights abuses. Its work spans the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising (over 500 protesters killed, hundreds blinded, tens of thousands arrested), the 2023 execution surge (853 executions recorded), and January 2026 protest documentation (6,479+ confirmed deaths plus 17,091 under review). CHRI's core outputs are publications and reports, multimedia content (videos, fact sheets, infographics, editorial cartoons), press releases, an email newsletter, and a "Voices from Iran" collection of eyewitness interviews, all distributed through iranhumanrights.org and a parallel Persian-language site. The organization pursues advocacy at international forums including the United Nations, conducts webinars with international legal partners, and collaborates with organizations such as the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute, Atlantic Council's Strategic Litigation Project, and the Kurdistan Human Rights Network.

The underlying technology is a WordPress-based content platform with bilingual English/Persian publishing, email distribution via icontact, and social distribution across Facebook, Twitter/X, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Instagram. There are no disclosed proprietary AI/ML systems, APIs, or data products; the platform's value derives from human-curated reporting and primary-source interviews rather than automated tooling. CHRI generates no commercial revenue; its funding model consists of tax-deductible charitable donations accepted through its website and via thegivingblock.com, supplemented by grant funding, with no publicly disclosed financial figures.

Name

Center for Human Rights in Iran

Legal name

Center for Human Rights in Iran

Website

https://iranhumanrights.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for Human Rights in Iran is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that documents human rights violations inside Iran through firsthand eyewitness reporting, publications, and advocacy at international forums, serving the global human rights community and Iranian civil society.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Advocacy and Documentation

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy (BPADAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Human Rights & Social Impact Reporting (UNGP, modern slavery) (EUAHAJAK)

Keywords

• Human rights documentation
• Human rights advocacy
• Human rights reporting
• Civil society support
• Press freedom monitoring

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Center for Human Rights in Iran is a nonprofit organization that documents and reports on human rights violations inside Iran through research publications, fact sheets, press releases, multimedia content, and firsthand accounts collected from sources within the country. It conducts international advocacy at forums such as the UN, engages with global legal organizations, and distributes its reporting through a website, email newsletter, and social media channels to raise awareness and support accountability efforts.

Product overview

Center for Human Rights in Iran is a nonprofit human rights organization that operates a content and news platform. The organization produces publications, reports, and multimedia content documenting human rights violations in Iran, maintains a news portal with press releases, and operates a newsletter subscription service. The core offerings consist of research publications and reports, multimedia content (videos, infographics, illustrations), press releases, and firsthand account collections. The organization does not operate a traditional software product but provides information and advocacy services through its digital platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Publications and Reports Research reports, fact sheets, policy briefings, and special reports documenting human rights violations in Iran, available for free to the public and international community.
• Multimedia Content Library Videos, infographics, illustrations, editorial cartoons, posters, GIFs, and interactive content documenting human rights issues in Iran, designed for global audience engagement and social sharing.
• Press Releases Timely press releases and statements on current human rights developments in Iran, distributed to media and the international community through the website.
• Voices from Iran Regularly updated collection of firsthand accounts and interviews with Iranians documenting protests and human rights conditions inside Iran.
• Email Newsletter Email newsletter providing updates on the latest human rights issues in Iran, distributed via the iContact platform to subscribers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Documented over 6,479 deaths and 17,091 additional deaths under review from January 2026 protests alone
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Middle East ImagescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2024CHRI partnered with Middle East Images to present a powerful collection of photographs documenting Iran’s Woman, Life, Freedom movement. The partnership marked the second anniversary of the movement, featuring photographs taken by photojournalists who faced state violence and detention for exposing the regime's crackdown.
• International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2023Co-organized a webinar on Day of the Endangered Lawyer highlighting the plight of Iranian lawyers who face persecution for upholding human rights and rule of law.
• International Observatory of Lawyers (OIAD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2023Co-organized webinar on Day of the Endangered Lawyer focusing on Iranian lawyers facing persecution for professional duties related to human rights advocacy.
• Geneva Bar Association (Ordre des Avocats de Genève)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2023Co-organized webinar highlighting plight of Iranian lawyers facing persecution for human rights work.
• The Law Society (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2023Co-organized event on Day of the Endangered Lawyer highlighting persecution of Iranian human rights lawyers.
• Atlantic Council's Strategic Litigation ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGissou Nia, a speaker at CHRI's webinar, is founder and director of the Strategic Litigation Project at Atlantic Council which works on prevention and accountability for atrocity crimes and human rights violations worldwide. CHRI collaborates on advocacy and legal programs promoting accountability for Iranian human rights abuses.
• Iran Human Rights Documentation CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGissou Nia serves as board chair of Iran Human Rights Documentation Center where she helps oversee human rights advocacy and legal programs. CHRI works in coordination on documentation and advocacy efforts.
• Kurdistan Human Rights NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHRI conducted in-depth interviews with eyewitnesses in smaller cities across Iran in collaboration with local human rights networks. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network provided testimony from cities including Sanandaj, Islamabad-e Gharb, and Qorveh.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Article 19: International freedom of expression organization that includes Iran-specific reporting and advocacy on internet freedom and free expression — an issue area CHRI explicitly covers.
• Access Now: Digital rights organization documenting internet shutdowns, surveillance, and online repression in Iran; directly aligned with CHRI's Internet Freedom issue vertical and free expression advocacy.
• Front Line Defenders: International organization protecting human rights defenders, including those in Iran; operates with a similar advocacy and rapid-response model addressing at-risk civil society actors.
• Reporters Without Borders (RSF): International press freedom organization documenting threats against journalists and media freedom violations in Iran — overlaps with CHRI's internet freedom and free expression issue areas.
• Committee to Protect Journalists: Press freedom advocacy organization that documents threats to journalists in Iran, including photojournalists covering protests — closely aligned with CHRI's documentation of state repression against media workers.
• Iran Human Rights Documentation Center: Direct peer organization focused specifically on documenting human rights violations in Iran; CHRI's board chair Gissou Nia serves at both organizations, evidencing close overlap in mission and stakeholder network.
• Kurdistan Human Rights Network: Regional human rights organization providing grassroots documentation from Iranian Kurdish areas; already a formal documentation partner of CHRI, evidencing direct operational overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Watch: Larger global human rights organization that covers Iran among many other countries, publishing reports and advocacy outputs directly comparable in scope and format to CHRI's documentation work.
• Amnesty International: Global human rights NGO producing country-level reports, urgent actions, and advocacy on Iran; competes for donor mindshare and serves overlapping international audiences.
• FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights): Global federation of human rights organizations producing country-level Iran documentation and engaging with international legal mechanisms; serves as both a peer and a potential partner organization for CHRI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ICHRI
• Facebookfacebook.com/ichrinyc
• Instagraminstagram.com/iranhumanrights
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-human-rights-in-iran

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Human Rights in Iran