INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS

What INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS does

Institute for International Law and Human Rights (IILHR) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in Brussels, Baghdad, and Erbil. The organization provides legislative drafting support, legal analysis, judicial training, and capacity building services to strengthen human rights and the rule of law, with operational focus on Iraq — including the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Kurdistan Regional Parliament, Supreme Judicial Council, and Iraqi civil society organizations.

IILHR's core products and outputs are advisory and training in nature rather than technology-based. Its portfolio includes the Legislative Drafting Guide for Iraqi Members of Parliament (launched February 2024), more than 100 legal memoranda and legislative analyses, the Reclaiming Identity Report on civil documentation barriers (March 2024), Criminal Justice Reform Templates adopted nationally by Iraq's High Judicial Council (August 2023), and the Youth Environmental Legislative Leaders (YELL) Program launched October 2025. Underlying work is performed by a small staff of diplomats, attorneys, and parliamentary specialists with deep Iraq-specific expertise built since 2007.

The organization's business model is that of a grant-funded non-profit. IILHR does not charge for its services; operations are funded through grants, donations, and institutional partnerships (e.g., PAX, Max Planck Foundation, USIP, ICRC, AUIB). Customer segments are primarily Iraqi government institutions and civil society, with vulnerable populations and youth legal professionals as secondary beneficiaries. The organization maintains exclusive institutional access, including the only NGO-level MOU with the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq.

Name

INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Legal name

Institute for International Law and Human Rights

Website

https://lawandhumanrights.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IILHR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2007 that provides legislative drafting, legal analysis, judicial training, and capacity building services, primarily serving the Iraqi Parliament, judiciary, civil society, and vulnerable populations to strengthen human rights and rule of law.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Human Rights and Rule of Law Services

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), National Security and International Affairs (9281)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Rule of Law, Justice & Corrections Support in Conflict Settings (BPADAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rule of Law & Justice Sector Reform (BPADAGAB), Security Sector Reform (SSR) & Defense Institution Building (BPADAFAE)

Keywords

• Human rights advocacy
• Legislative drafting support
• Rule of law
• Judicial reform training
• Legal policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

IILHR provides legislative drafting support, comparative legal research and analysis, judicial training, and policy advisory services to strengthen democratic values and human rights in transitioning states, with a primary focus on Iraq. The organization produces legal memoranda, handbooks, and research reports while delivering capacity-building programs for parliamentarians, judges, civil society organizations, and young legal professionals.

Product overview

IILHR is a non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) providing legislative support and capacity building for Iraqi constitutional and judicial development. Rather than a unified technology product, IILHR offers a portfolio of advisory services and publications including the Youth Environmental Legislative Leaders (YELL) Program for training young legal professionals; the Legislative Drafting Guide as a handbook resource for parliamentarians; and Legal Memoranda and Analysis services producing over 100 different legislative analyses. The organization also develops Criminal Justice Reform Tools (templates and checklists for courts) and produces research reports including the Reclaiming Identity Report and Comparative Environmental Memoranda. These services work together to strengthen democratic values and human rights in states emerging from conflict.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Environmental Legislative Leaders (YELL) Program A training program launched in October 2025 that invests in Iraq's next generation of legal leaders by equipping participants with knowledge, practical skills, and mentorship for legislative reform. Participants develop legislative proposals on environmental issues for consideration by the Iraqi Council of Representatives.
• Legislative Drafting Guide A user-friendly resource for Iraqi Members of Parliament covering basic elements of legislative drafting. Developed over a year with contributions from State Council, Office of President, judiciary, senior and former MPs, and academia.
• Legal Memoranda and Analysis More than 100 different legal memoranda and analyses produced for the Iraqi Parliament covering constitutional review, gender law, human rights commissions, social safety nets, freedom of expression, accountability, transitional justice, cultural heritage, and minority rights.
• Criminal Justice Reform Tools Templates and checklists developed jointly with senior Iraqi judges for case file documentation, designed to increase reliance on evidence other than confessions and highlight defense counsel activities.
• Reclaiming Identity Report Final report analyzing the crisis of missing civil documentation in Iraq, identifying barriers to obtaining documents, profiling affected groups, and providing implementable recommendations for the Government of Iraq.
• Comparative Environmental Memoranda Comparative analyses examining environmental liability frameworks, natural resource governance, water law, and sustainable development legislative options for Iraq based on international best practices.
• Legislative Proposals (Environmental) Four legislative proposals developed by young Iraqi legal leaders addressing environmental challenges including Environmental Protection, Sustainable Investment, Waste Management, and Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture, presented to the Iraqi Council of Representatives in July 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 legislative proposals developed and presented to Iraqi Council of Representatives through YELL Program (2025-2026)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• American University of Iraq–Baghdad (AUIB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026IILHR formalized a strategic framework for collaboration with AUIB through an MOU signed in Baghdad on January 29, 2026. The partnership outlines joint efforts to advance education, training, and capacity building in legislative drafting, environmental governance, human rights law, and broader legal development initiatives. The collaboration includes the YELL Program inaugural legislative drafting training hosted at AUIB in October 2025.
• Max Planck FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2025IILHR partnered with the Max Planck Foundation to convene a national symposium on September 10, 2025, bringing together parliamentarians and civil society to strengthen public participation in Iraq's legislative process.
• Supreme Judicial Council of IraqcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2024IILHR renewed its MOU with the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq on October 15, 2024, continuing its longstanding support of the Iraqi Judiciary dating back to 2007. IILHR is the only NGO to have signed an MOU with the SJC. The partnership supports criminal justice reform, evidence-based judicial processes, and judicial training.
• PAXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAX is the largest peacebuilding NGO in the Netherlands, active in Iraq since 2001. Together with IILHR, PAX implements projects on legislative reform and political empowerment of youth. The partnership takes a conflict transformation approach, addressing harmful norms and transforming them into constructive and inclusive norms.
• Ceasefire Centre for Civilian RightssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCeasefire Centre for Civilian Rights is an international initiative developing civilian-led monitoring of violations of international humanitarian law or human rights and securing accountability. IILHR partnered with Ceasefire on developing enforced disappearances legislation.
• Roya Development GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoya Development Group (RDG) is a mission-driven research, development, and advocacy firm founded in 2021, dedicated to advancing good governance and inclusive development in Iraq. RDG supports stakeholders navigating Iraq's complex socio-political, economic, and development landscape.
• APSU (APS Waters)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPSU is an independent, non-profit Iraqi NGO established in 2020, focusing on water, environment, sustainable development, and capacity building. The organization works to foster partnerships between government institutions, NGOs, and international bodies to enhance water and environmental sustainability.
• Enmaa Center for Researches & Studies (ECRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECRS is an independent Iraqi think tank founded in 2011, promoting research and analysis on political, economic, and social developments in Iraq. IILHR partnered with ECRS on the civil documentation research initiative to support Iraqi government in enhancing citizens' ability to access legal identity and civil documents.
• United States Institute of PeacesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarting in 2010, IILHR organized a legislative caucus of minority members of parliament with the United States Institute of Peace to work collaboratively on legislative action for minority rights in Iraq.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIILHR worked with ICRC on missing persons legislation, providing comparative analysis and technical support for legislative development on this humanitarian issue.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF): Direct peer providing rule-of-law and security sector reform (SSR) advisory support to governments in fragile states, including Iraq. Closely aligned with IILHR's institutional engagement model (MOUs with Iraqi counterparts, legislative drafting, training programs).
• Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG): Direct peer providing pro bono legal advisory, legislative drafting, and rule-of-law support to governments in conflict-affected states. PILPG has overlapping Iraq and post-conflict programming and shares senior personnel lineage with IILHR (e.g., Najim Al-Khaphaji previously worked at PILPG).
• International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ): Direct peer providing transitional justice, legislative reform, and accountability support in post-conflict states. ICTJ has worked on Iraq-specific transitional justice issues (missing persons, reparations) that overlap with IILHR's Yezidi Survivors Law and enforced disappearances work.
• PAX: Direct peer and active IILHR partner implementing conflict transformation, legislative reform, and youth political empowerment projects in Iraq since 2001. Joint programming with IILHR on harmful norm transformation provides near-identical service offering and counterpart institutions.
• Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law: Direct peer and active IILHR partner that provides rule-of-law and legislative capacity building in fragile and conflict-affected states, including Iraq. Co-convened IILHR's September 2025 symposium on public participation in Iraq's legislative process and operates a closely comparable methodological approach.

Broad incumbents

• International Commission of Jurists (ICJ): Broad incumbent Geneva-based international organization working on judicial independence, human rights, and rule of law globally. Comparable mission, methodology, and counterpart institutions to IILHR but with broader thematic and geographic mandate and substantially larger scale.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): Broad incumbent German federal development agency implementing rule-of-law, governance, and legislative reform programs globally, including Iraq. A former IILHR legal advisor (Vlora Maxhuni) previously worked as a Rule of Law and Good Governance Advisor with GIZ, evidencing direct methodology and counterparty overlap.
• ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI): Broad incumbent operating one of the largest global rule-of-law portfolios with sustained programming in Iraq, including judicial reform, legal aid, and capacity building. Substantially larger budget and broader geographic footprint than IILHR, but with overlapping counterpart institutions (judiciary, bar associations).
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP): Broad incumbent U.S. federal institution providing conflict prevention, legislative capacity building, and rule-of-law programming globally, including a longstanding Iraq legislative caucus partnership with IILHR dating back to 2010. Operates with significantly larger resources and broader scope.

Emerging players

• International Crisis Group: Adjacent analytical and policy advisory organization with a longstanding Iraq program focused on conflict, governance, and rule-of-law challenges. While not a legislative drafting provider, it shapes the policy environment in which IILHR operates and is often a thought-leadership counterpart to IILHR's Iraq programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-international-law-and-human-rights

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS