Human rights belong to every one of us without exception. However, unless we know them, unless we demand they be respected, and unless we defend our rights - and the rights of others - to exercise them, human rights will just be words. At the Institute of Human Rights & Environmental Studies (IHES) we combine professional excellence and effective activism to advance human rights in the East African region and Africa as a whole. We aim to contribute to advancing human rights, through education, research and advocacy. We address human rights issues from both a contextual and a global outlook.
We deliver training on human rights theory and practice, compliance, monitoring, reporting and advocacy. We advise commercial clients on their human rights policies, particularly in the light of the growing regime of respect for human rights by corporations.
We provide a forum for the exchange of ideas in relation to the challenges faced by businesses in seeking to prevent adverse human rights impacts arising from or connected with their activities.
We support states and national human rights institutions in the area of human rights policy development, review and formulation.
We support capacity development through training, systems and institutional development, reporting as well as monitoring and evaluation. Our experts provide governance support from traditional state rule of law institutions to privately run dispute resolution mechanisms and institutions.
We also assist deserving individuals and communities with pro bono services including by representing marginalized communities in court, submitting interventions and amicus curiae briefs and undertaking international comparative research projects to inform policy work.
It is our belief that everyone should have access to justice and legal representation. We give practical and effective advice about human rights and discrimination to individuals, businesses, educational institutions, professional regulatory bodies and other organizations.We develop proactive strategies, including conflict audits, to prevent human rights problems and effectively resolve human rights complaints. Our experienced lawyers and experts will represent clients before human rights tribunals, arbitration tribunals and courts as well as resolve human rights concerns with progressive dispute resolution techniques and creative strategies.
By focusing on communities with pressing human needs, we deliver programs aimed at creative learning that enhances the capacity of our clients and stakeholders to improve their expertise in human rights advocacy. Through the creation of people-to-people partnerships, we are especially dedicated to protecting human rights, supporting economic and social development as well as building peace.
One of our areas of focus is to work with communities with pressing human needs enhancing the capacity of communities to improve their livelihoods. With an increase in human rights violations by corporations and entities and with the increase in violations of environmental rights, we take on the perpetrators and seek legal remedies for the affected individuals or communities. Through the creation of people-to-people partnerships, we are especially dedicated to protecting human rights, supporting economic and social development, and building peace. Through the celebration of diversity, we foster harmony amongst individuals and cultures.