As international justice experts rush to offer Syrians their TJ expertise and services, the Syrians may do well to grasp the opportunity to draw relevant lessons from such experiences around the world—and more importantly from neighboring Iraq—while recognizing key differences between the two situations.

Les efforts annoncés par l’administration Trump pour faciliter un accord de paix entre le Rwanda et la République démocratique du Congo (RDC), doivent privilégier la responsabilité et la justice pour les survivant-e-s et les victimes de ce conflit de longue date, a déclaré aujourd’hui Physicians for Human Rights (PHR).  Une première « déclaration de principes […]

The Trump administration’s reported efforts to facilitate a peace accord between Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) must prioritize accountability and justice for survivors and victims of the long-running conflict, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said today.   An initial “declaration of principles” between DRC and Rwanda published by the U.S. State Department is […]

The following quote is attributable to Houssam al-Nahhas, MD, MPH, health and human rights researcher for Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and a Syrian physician:  “The new Syrian government’s establishment of a National Transitional Justice Commission and a National Commission for the Missing represents key steps forward for survivors and families of the victims of […]

*This press release is cross-posted from the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC), of which PHR is a Steering Committee Member. GENEVA – In 2024, attacks on health care in conflict reached the highest level ever recorded since the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) began reporting over a decade ago. The SHCC’s new report – Epidemic of Violence […]

PHR urges members of Congress to exercise Congress’ power to determine the FY26 federal budget and to protect, restore, and fully fund global health aid.

Hasan Inal is a seasoned nonprofit finance professional with over a decade of experience in accounting, financial management, and organizational leadership. As Controller at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), he oversees the organization’s financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and audit preparation. He ensures compliance with accounting standards and supports strategic decision-making through clear, […]

Executive Summary Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and the Organization for Justice and Accountability in the Horn of Africa (OJAH), have documented widespread, systematic and deliberate conflict related sexual violence (CRSV) in the Tigray region. Evidence gathered by PHR and OJAH, through a systematic review of medical records, shows that CRSV was used as a […]

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is proud to host fellows who are emerging leaders in the fields of human rights, law, medicine, public health, and related disciplines. Through partnerships with academic institutions and fellowship programs, PHR provides a dynamic environment where fellows work closely with our experts and staff to gain practical experience while contributing […]

President Trump’s policy agenda compounds suffering, threatens public health, and violates fundamental human rights.  

The Trump administration’s cuts and restructure of the U.S. State Department represent a dangerous attack on human rights and health, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said today. The U.S. Congress should urgently review and contest these changes, while working to reinstate these key offices.   The dismantling of multiple U.S. government offices that were central in […]

The Myanmar military junta’s years of unlawful attacks on healthcare facilities and health workers have severely hindered the emergency response to the devastating earthquake on March 28, 2025, Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights said today. A month after the earthquake, the junta has continued to obstruct access to life-saving services in opposition-held […]

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a groundbreaking United Nations process initiated in 2006 that evaluates the human rights records of all 193 Member States on an equal footing. This year, the human rights record of the United States will be the subject of scrutiny. To help inform the UPR of the United States in […]

The woman seated facing me smiled briefly as she recalled her work in Afghanistan with a nongovernmental organization that supported women’s voting rights. This was before the Taliban takeover in 2021 – before her organization’s offices were ransacked and directors imprisoned, before her town’s mayor warned that she was on a list of women wanted […]

The Trump administration’s immigration policies are resulting in decreased access to health care among undocumented immigrants, individuals with other immigration statuses, and U.S. citizens, according to a new survey of 173 health care professionals across the United States, published today by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). Medical professionals report that fear is already contributing to […]

The current climate surrounding immigration enforcement and deportation has created widespread fear that, according to health care providers, is directly reducing health care utilization. This avoidance extends beyond those that are undocumented to visa-holding immigrants, mixed-status families, and even U.S. citizens. Telehealth has emerged as a vital tool for maintaining access to care while minimizing […]

The Court of Appeal in Nairobi, Kenya today failed survivors of the 2007-2008 post-election sexual violence by delaying the judgement in a landmark court case.   “As the litigation at the High Court and Court of Appeal (Civil Appeal No. E645 of 2021) have been ongoing for more than 12 years, today’s postponement of a scheduled […]

The Court of Appeal in Nairobi will deliver its judgment on Civil Appeal No. E645 of 2021, brought by four survivors of election-related sexual violence during the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya. The four survivors were previously denied redress due to the High Court’s failure to recognize government’s responsibility to protect them from election-related sexual […]

In response to United Nations (UN) reports that Israeli forces killed 15 medical and humanitarian workers and buried them in a mass grave in southern Gaza, the following statement is attributable to Sam Zarifi, JD, executive director at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR):   “The reported killings and burial of 15 health and humanitarian workers […]

Deceptively known as “less-lethal,” these weapons can in fact cause severe injuries and even death when used with excessive force. Physicians for Human Rights has worked extensively on the health impacts of these weapons and has issued the following guidance to help people seeking to exercise their right to protest prepare for, protect against, and […]

Triveni DeFries, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor at University of California (UCSF) in the Department of Medicine and Core Faculty in the Institute of Global Health Sciences. She is a physician who is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine. She completed medical school, residency and fellowship training at UCSF. She practices primary care […]

Jim Recht, MD is a Lecturer on Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the HIV Team psychiatrist at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program, where he also co-leads the BHCHP Asylum Clinic. Jim completed medical school at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and psychiatry residency training at Tufts Medical Center and St. Elizabeth’s Medical […]

Individuals expelled from the United States to Panama in February 2025 without being allowed to present asylum claims appear to have psychological and physical symptoms consistent with their reports of torture, mistreatment, and/or persecution in their countries of origin, according to new evidence from Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) submitted today by the Global Strategic […]

In an episode airing in March 2025, “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” called for an end to the use of “excited delirium” as a cause of deaths in police custody. The segment cites PHR’s landmark 2022 report “Excited Delirium and Deaths in Police Custody,” which shows how the term is not a valid, independent […]

Following the Trump administration’s decision to end guidance protecting “sensitive locations” such as health care facilities from immigration enforcement actions, a new guide published today provides information to health care workers about how to navigate the new enforcement landscape while upholding ethical duties.  “Health Care and U.S. Immigration Enforcement: What Providers Should Know,” jointly published […]