MENA Rights Group
MENA Rights Group is a Geneva-based non-profit legal advocacy NGO founded in 2018 that represents victims of human rights violations across 22 Arab League states before UN mechanisms, produces shadow reports, and delivers capacity building to civil society through donations and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What MENA Rights Group does
MENA Rights Group is a Geneva-based non-governmental organization founded in September 2018 and registered as an association under Swiss law. It is a legal advocacy organization focused on defending and promoting human rights in the Middle East and North Africa, operating across all 22 Arab League member states — from Mauritania in the west to Oman in the east, and from Sudan in the south to Bahrain in the north. Its work centers on representing victims of severe human rights violations (arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture, extrajudicial execution) before international protection mechanisms, including UN Human Rights Council procedures, treaty bodies, special procedures, and Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycles. The organization is led by President Natasha Latif and Director Ines Esman, with a multidisciplinary team that includes legal officers, a North Africa–specialized legal researcher, and an advisory council comprising academics from Stanford, Harvard, and UC Berkeley along with practitioners such as ALQST president Yahya Al-Aseeri.
The organization's service portfolio is organized around six interconnected offerings: legal representation before international mechanisms, on-the-ground documentation and monitoring of human rights conditions, shadow reports for UN UPR and treaty body reviews, analytical reports and policy papers, individual case documentation, and capacity building for civil society actors. Distribution is direct: the organization engages victims and their families, submits filings to UN bodies, and delivers training to local NGOs and human rights defenders. It maintains a bilingual (English/Arabic) website as its primary documentation and dissemination platform and produces reports, advocacy articles, and case write-ups.
MENA Rights Group's revenue model is donation- and grant-based, consistent with its non-profit status; financial figures are not publicly disclosed. It pursues a partnership-driven go-to-market approach, coordinating recurring joint advocacy with peer organizations including Amnesty International, Reprieve, ALQST, Access Now, FIDH, Gulf Centre for Human Rights, ESOHR, Redress, and African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies. Notable collaborations include the 2021 Africa Enforced Disappearance Project (with Redress as coordinator), the May 2026 11-NGO joint statement on Meta content restrictions in Saudi Arabia and UAE, and the June 2026 UN HRC 62 side event on the death penalty in Saudi Arabia co-organized with Amnesty International and Reprieve. The organization is independent of any parent entity and is not publicly traded.
MENA Rights Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MENA Rights Group
- Legal name
- MENA Rights Group
- Website
- https://menarights.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- MENA Rights Group is a Geneva-based non-profit legal advocacy NGO founded in 2018 that represents victims of human rights violations across 22 Arab League states before UN mechanisms, produces shadow reports, and delivers capacity building to civil society through donations and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MENA Rights Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Human Rights Legal Advocacy
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111), International Affairs (9721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy (BPADAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Transitional Justice, Accountability & Reparations (BPADAGAL)
Keywords
Where MENA Rights Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Geneva
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
MENA Rights Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
MENA Rights Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MENA Rights Group is a Geneva-based legal advocacy NGO that provides free legal representation of victims of human rights violations before international protection mechanisms, including UN human rights bodies and regional mechanisms. It documents and monitors individual cases of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture, and extrajudicial execution across 22 Arab League member states, produces shadow reports for UN Universal Periodic Review and treaty body reviews, publishes analytical reports and policy papers, and delivers capacity building for civil society actors to access UN human rights mechanisms.
Product overview
MENA Rights Group is a Geneva-based legal advocacy NGO that offers a suite of interconnected human rights services. Its core offerings include legal representation before international human rights mechanisms (UN procedures and regional bodies), documentation and monitoring of human rights conditions across the MENA region, production of shadow reports for UN review mechanisms (UPR and treaty bodies), publication of analytical reports and policy papers, documentation of individual cases (arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture), and capacity building for civil society actors. The organization operates primarily through its website as a documentation and advocacy platform covering 22 Arab League member states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Legal Representation Services Legal representation of individuals who have suffered severe human rights violations before international protection mechanisms, including UN human rights bodies and regional mechanisms. Provided free of charge to victims of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture, and extrajudicial execution across the MENA region.
- Documentation and Monitoring Monitoring of human rights conditions on the ground, documenting individual cases, identifying patterns of violations, and analyzing structural causes of human rights abuses across the MENA region.
- Shadow Reports for UN Mechanisms Production of shadow reports and submissions for UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and treaty body reviews to bring civil society perspectives to state compliance assessments on human rights obligations.
- Analysis and Research Reports Issuance of analytical reports, policy papers, and briefings to highlight key human rights concerns and advocate for legal and political reform in MENA countries.
- Case Documentation Documentation of individual human rights cases including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and torture for advocacy and submission to international mechanisms.
- Capacity Building Training and lectures for human rights defenders and university students, and technical support for civil society actors to access UN human rights mechanisms.
Companies that use MENA Rights Group
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MENA Rights Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
MENA Rights Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ReprievecoreJointly organized a side event at the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council on the death penalty in Saudi Arabia and its intersection with torture and arbitrary execution.
- ALQST for Human Rights (القسط)coreJointly organized side event at UN HRC 62 on death penalty in Saudi Arabia. Collaborates on advocacy for Saudi human rights.
- Amnesty InternationalcorePartner in joint side event at UN HRC 62 on death penalty in Saudi Arabia.
- European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR)corePartner in joint UN side event on Saudi Arabia's death penalty practices.
- Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)corePartner in joint UN side event on death penalty and human rights in the Gulf region.
- Access NowcoreJoint statement with 11 NGOs condemning Meta's decision to block human rights accounts from audiences in Saudi Arabia and UAE. Call for Meta to uphold human rights responsibilities.
- ALQST for Human RightscoreSaudi human rights organization whose account was blocked by Meta. Joint statement demanding reinstatement.
- American Middle Eastern League for Democracy (AMEMSA)minorSignatory to joint statement on Meta blocking human rights accounts.
- Dia|CenterminorSignatory to joint statement on Meta content restrictions in Gulf region.
- Digital ActionminorSignatory to joint NGO statement on Meta blocking human rights content.
- EMFA (Electronic Frontier Foundation)minorSignatory to joint statement on Meta content restrictions.
- Gulf Centre for Human RightscoreSignatory to joint statement on Meta blocking human rights accounts in Gulf.
- Humaina for Human Rights and Civic ParticipationminorSignatory to joint statement on digital repression.
- International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)coreSignatory to joint statement on Meta content restrictions in Gulf.
- International Civil Liberties Organisation (ICLT)minorSignatory to joint statement.
- Skyline International for Human RightsminorSignatory to joint statement on digital rights violations.
- SMEXminorSignatory to joint statement on digital censorship.
- Alliance of Orphans of Mauritania (Alliance des Orphelins de Mauritanie)coreJoint shadow report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council ahead of Mauritania's fourth Universal Periodic Review. The report highlighted key concerns on violations of freedom of expression, lack of accountability for violations during the Passif Humanitarian, and abuse of counter-terrorism legislation.
- Redress (organisations координация)coreJoint project on enforced disappearance across Africa, coordinated by Redress, including partners in Algeria, Libya, Sudan, and Zimbabwe. Supports human rights lawyers and victim groups in bringing legal challenges to enforced disappearance cases.
- African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS)corePartner in the Africa Enforced Disappearance Project coordinating advocacy on enforced disappearance cases across the African continent.
- Lawyers for Justice in LibyacorePartner in Africa Enforced Disappearance Project supporting victims of enforced disappearance and their families.
- Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human RightscorePartner in Africa Enforced Disappearance Project supporting legal challenges to enforced disappearance cases.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MENA Rights Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Amnesty International: Largest global human rights NGO. Amnesty International partnered with MENA Rights Group on the UN HRC 62 death penalty side event and frequently engages with MENA issues, representing the broad-incumbent counterpart for similar mission activity.
- Human Rights Watch: Global human rights organization that produces extensive MENA country reports and engages UN mechanisms. While covering MENA as part of a global mandate, Human Rights Watch is a natural incumbent peer for comparing UN shadow-report quality and influence at treaty bodies.
- FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights): Paris-based federation of 192 human rights organizations. FIDH co-signed the joint statement on Meta content restrictions with MENA Rights Group and operates at a much broader global scale, making it a relevant incumbent peer for coalition and funding comparisons.
Direct peers
- Redress: International NGO focused on torture and enforced disappearance. MENA Rights Group joined Redress's Africa Enforced Disappearance Project as a coordinating partner in 2021, making it a direct peer on enforced-disappearance litigation and UN submissions.
- Reprieve: International NGO focused on death penalty and arbitrary detention cases. Reprieve co-organized the UN HRC 62 side event on Saudi death penalty with MENA Rights Group, sharing case-level litigation and UN-mechanism advocacy.
- Access Now: Global digital rights organization that co-led the joint NGO statement on Meta blocking human rights accounts in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Overlap in digital-civil-liberties advocacy within MENA and at UN mechanisms.
- Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR): Beirut-based NGO focused on human rights defenders in the Gulf region. GCHR is a frequent joint-statement partner with MENA Rights Group on UN advocacy and Meta censorship issues, with closely overlapping MENA mandate and UN-engagement model.
- ALQST for Human Rights: London-based NGO documenting human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. MENA Rights Group co-organized a UN HRC 62 side event with ALQST and named an advisory council member who serves as ALQST's president, making it the closest direct peer on MENA-focused legal advocacy.
- European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR): European-based NGO focused on human rights in Saudi Arabia. ESOHR partnered with MENA Rights Group on the death penalty side event at UN HRC 62 and shares the same MENA-focused legal advocacy niche.
Emerging players
- SMEX: Beirut-based NGO advocating for digital rights and freedom of expression across the MENA region. SMEX is a co-signatory to MENA Rights Group's joint statement on Meta content restrictions, with partial overlap on MENA digital civil-liberties advocacy.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MENA Rights Group social profiles
Digital presenceMENA Rights Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MENA Rights Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
MENA Rights Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MENA Rights Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MENA Rights Group
What does MENA Rights Group do?
MENA Rights Group is a Geneva-based legal advocacy NGO that provides free legal representation of victims of human rights violations before international protection mechanisms, including UN human rights bodies and regional mechanisms. It documents and monitors individual cases of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture, and extrajudicial execution across 22 Arab League member states, produces shadow reports for UN Universal Periodic Review and treaty body reviews, publishes analytical reports and policy papers, and delivers capacity building for civil society actors to access UN human rights mechanisms.
Is MENA Rights Group a public or private company?
MENA Rights Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was MENA Rights Group founded?
MENA Rights Group was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is MENA Rights Group based?
MENA Rights Group is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
Who are MENA Rights Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights). Direct peers are Redress, Reprieve, Access Now, Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR), ALQST for Human Rights and European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR). SMEX is listed as an emerging player.
Does MENA Rights Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for MENA Rights Group.
What industry is MENA Rights Group in?
MENA Rights Group's product category is Human Rights Legal Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAGAK, Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy, with a secondary code of BPAGAFAB, Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8111.