Litigation for Human Rights and Therapeutic Justice
About us
The Centre for the Enforcement of Human Rights International (CEHRI) is a non-profit organisation, established in 2014 and based in Vienna (Austria). We are committed to advancing the enforcement of human rights through strategic litigation, focusing on the prosecution of international crimes before domestic courts and international tribunals.
We recognise that healing from trauma induced by human rights violations requires both legal redress and personal recovery. To this end, CEHRI’s work is victim-centered and based on two pillars: legal and psychosocial support. This approach empowers victims to actively participate in legal decisions and testify, while safeguarding their wellbeing and achieving therapeutic justice.
Our Approach
We promote and enforce the protection of universal human rights, particularly through strategic litigation and the use of procedural law. Our primary focus is the prosecution of international crimes and severe human rights violations in domestic , European, and international courts and tribunals.
We initiate and conduct legal proceedings to assert victims’ rights and hold both State and non-state actors accountable for committed human rights violations. A global network of local partners supports our efforts.
Our work focuses on three key areas:
Our unique model integrates legal support with mental health expertise. Thus, we address both, the legal and psychological needs of a victim’s experience to achieve therapeutic justice.
Our holistic victim-centered approach is designed to advance justice and long-lasting healing; empowering victims to actively participate in legal proceedings thus ensuring their voices and rights are upheld. In doing so, we aim to create a supportive environment which minimises risk of re-traumatisation.
Our Team
We are a diverse team of professionals, including lawyers, medical experts, academics and paralegals, at various stages of our careers. What unites us is a shared commitment to human rights for all, a passion for advocating indiscriminate human rights protection, and a firm belief that strategic legal action is capable of improving victims’ human rights realities.
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Support Litigation for Human Rights and Therapeutic Justice
CEHRI’s work is only possible through donations and contributions. Every small amount helps us in the fight for the victims we support.
In Austria, CEHRI is a tax-deductible (spendenbegünstigte) organization. If you are an Austrian taxpayer, remember to mention your donation on your tax return.
In the USA, CEHRI is certified as the equivalent of a public charity and can be found in the NGOsource repository of equivalency-determined organizations.