A civil court in Ankara today arbitrarily dismissed eleven of the most eminent physicians in Türkiye from their elected positions on the Central Council of the Turkish Medical Association

Despite some good faith efforts, the United States lags well behind accepted international human rights standards.

As U.S. Congress continue funding negotiations, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is alarmed at reports that aid to Ukraine could be withheld unless the bill includes permanent and devastating changes to the U.S. asylum system. In the face of potentially devastating changes, PHR is strongly urging lawmakers to safeguard the right to asylum. For more […]

A ban on abortions in Texas has made it nearly impossible for doctors in the state to care for their patients who need medically necessary care, even in cases where a pregnant patient is at acute risk of dangerous complications or where a fetus will not survive pregnancy, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) argued this […]

The horrific attacks on civilians during the war in Israel and Gaza since October 7, including the unprecedented attacks on health care workers and facilities, demand independent verification and accountability, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said today. Reports of an imminent deal between Hamas and Israel to release hostages in exchange for prisoners, along with […]

Survivors and civil society organizations today called on the Attorney General of Kenya to immediately enforce a 2020 High Court decision that found the government of Kenya liable for its failure to investigate and prosecute sexual violence in the wake of contested 2007–2008 presidential elections in the country. Speaking in Nairobi, eight survivors of the […]

Targeted and indiscriminate attacks on hospitals, with devastating impact on civilians, are a defining element of the ongoing conflicts in the Gaza Strip, Syria, and Ukraine.

The international arrest warrants issued by a French court for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and two generals for their role in devastating chemical attacks against civilians in 2013 are a crucial first step towards justice for the many victims of the Syrian government’s gross human rights violations, said Physicians for Human […]

PHR’s work in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory has centered on documenting and raising awareness about human rights violations resulting from the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.   In response to Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023 and Israel’s assault on Gaza, PHR calls for the immediate and unconditional protection of all civilians, health […]

More than three years after the Black Lives Matter movement swept the United States and brought renewed attention to racial injustice, a UN human rights monitoring mechanism has issued a groundbreaking new report about excessive use of force and racism in policing. The report from the Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in […]

The 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) concluded last week with at best mixed results – and certainly mixed signals – regarding the Council’s commitment to health and human rights. Together with national, regional, and international partners, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) urged Member States and Special Procedures to seek accountability for […]

In response to reports by the Palestinian Health Ministry that a strike on Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital in Gaza City has killed hundreds of civilians, the following quote is attributable to Sam Zarifi, JD, LLM, executive director at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR):  “The catastrophic strike on Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital is among the deadliest attacks on […]

PHR spotlights evidence of human rights violations in the United States before one of the most wide-ranging international human rights treaties. 

In response to news that the lawyers representing asylum-seeking families separated by the Trump administration had reached a settlement deal with the U.S. Department of Justice, the following statement is attributable to Tessa Wilson, senior program officer of the PHR asylum program: “PHR had long called on the U.S. administration to provide redress to victims […]

Hamas’s brutal attacks on October 7 killed more than 1300 people in Israel. At least 150 civilians were reportedly taken hostage and forcibly transferred to Gaza. Hamas’s deliberate targeting of civilians and the numerous atrocities reported constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.   The Israeli military response has already resulted in the reported deaths […]

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) board of directors adopted a resolution voted on by the ACEP Council that officially withdraws its approval of its 2009 white paper endorsing the medically baseless concept of “excited delirium,” which has been misused to explain deaths in police custody for decades. ACEP’s decision removed the final pillar […]

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) applauds the California legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom for approving first-of-its-kind legislation to ban “excited delirium” as a diagnosis and cause of death in the state.   With the governor’s signing of AB 360 California becomes the first state in the country to bar use of the invalid, baseless concept of […]

In response to reports that the Biden administration will continue construction of border barriers in Starr County, Texas, the following quote is attributable to Tessa Wilson, senior program officer with the asylum program at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR):  “The Biden administration’s decision to waive 26 federal laws for faster border wall construction in Texas contradicts […]

The failure of the UN Human Rights Council to renew the mandate of the Independent Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) prevents survivors and victims of human rights violations from any credible access to justice and could lead to further atrocities, said the Global Centre for Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P), Health Professionals Network […]

In response to reports that the Russian Federation is attempting to rejoin the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), the following quote is attributable to Sam Zarifi, JD, LLM, executive director at PHR:  “Russian forces have routinely bombed hospitals, tortured civilians, abducted children, raped women, and destroyed critical infrastructure in Ukraine. Russia’s president is a […]

Michele joins PHR as a development and fundraising expert (Interim Director of Development). Michele is a leading non-profit executive with extensive experience in planning, capacity building, board and governance support, development and fundraising. She has extensive experience with (U)HNWI and has managed multiple teams across the global. Michele led her former organization from a small […]

Toby Greenfield is the Senior Institutional Development Manager overseeing fundraising from foundation, governments, and other institutions. She is responsible for creating and stewarding relationships with these institutions to create revenue pipelines to support PHR’s work. Prior to joining PHR, Greenfield worked for PILnet as the Director for Development and Communications and the Director of New […]

Barbara Pirto heads up all finance functions at PHR as its Director of Finance.  She is responsible for all financial operations and oversees all external and internal financial reporting including audits, tax filings, financial planning, executive management reports, and donor reports accounting, budgeting, audits, and all financial policies and procedures. She comes to PHR after 30 years […]

PHR joins the call for the immediate end to ongoing administrative harassment of eminent physician Ayşe Uğurlu and all attempts to silence and punish medical professionals and professional organizations in Türkiye for their defense of human rights.

In response to today’s report by UN experts (International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia, or ICHREE) on ongoing human rights violations in Ethiopia, the following statement is attributable to Erika Dailey, director of advocacy, policy and communications at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR):  “War crimes and crimes against humanity – mass killings, rape, […]