HUMAN RIGHTS · IRAN · UNITED STATES · AFRICA

Rights don’t stop at borders. Neither does the record.

Independent, source-first coverage of human rights in Iran, the United States and Africa. Every claim is sourced and dated, with a link to the original.

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Three regions, one standard

Iran

Executions, press freedom, the internet shutdown, women’s rights and minorities.

Go to Iran →

United States

Detention and deaths in custody, federal enforcement, voting rights and free speech.

Go to the United States →

Africa

Sudan, eastern Congo, the Sahel and Ethiopia: atrocities, displacement and civic space.

Go to Africa →

Latest briefings and explainers

All news and reports →

How we source

Primary sources

We link to the UN, court documents and original reports, not to summaries of summaries.

Dated and attributed

Every claim has a named source and a date. Advocacy and exile-owned sources are labelled as such.

Corrected in the open

If we get something wrong, we fix it visibly. See how we work.

Follow the record

Sign up to hear when we publish a new briefing or report, then read the sources and share them, with the source and date, with family and colleagues.

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Get occasional updates on how to take action on human rights in Boston and beyond. We only collect your email. We will never sell or share it.


    VOLUNTEER IN BOSTON

    Help us defend human rights in Boston

    Rights don’t stop at borders. Neither does the record. If you live in or around Boston and want to help keep that record, we’d love to hear from you. Tell us what you’re curious about and what you can bring, and we’ll go from there.

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    WAYS TO VOLUNTEER

    Find the place where you can help

    Human rights work depends on people who show up, notice details, and keep a careful record. If you’re in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, or anywhere nearby, there’s room for you here. Here are some of the ways you can get involved. Pick one, or tell us what you’d rather do.

    Research and fact-checking

    Read sources, check names, dates and places, and trace claims back to where they came from. If you’re careful and like getting details right, this is for you.

    Community outreach

    Talk with neighbors, student groups, libraries, faith and cultural communities, and local organizations. Share what we’re doing, and listen to what people tell you.

    Writing and translation

    Draft and edit clear, plain-language pieces. Translate and review in Persian (Farsi), French, Arabic, Amharic, Swahili, and any other language you read and write well.

    Events and tabling

    Help set up, welcome people, and talk with visitors at community events and tables around Boston and nearby towns.

    Design, web and social media

    Make graphics, improve accessibility, help with WordPress, write captions and alt text, and keep our posts clear and easy to share.

    Something else?

    Photography, note-taking, interpreting, event logistics, a skill we didn’t list. If you think it could help, tell us about it.

    What to send us

    Send a short email. Four lines is plenty:

    • Your name
    • Your neighborhood or town
    • Your skills, including any languages you speak, read, or write
    • Hours per month you think you could give (a rough guess is fine)

    Add anything else you’d like us to know: what draws you to this work, a link to your portfolio, or the kind of role you have in mind.

    NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED

    You don’t have to be an expert

    You don’t need a background in law, human rights, or activism. If you’re curious, careful, and willing to learn, we want to hear from you. Students, retirees, newcomers to Boston, long-time residents, and people who work other jobs are all welcome. Tell us what you’re comfortable with and what you’d like to try.