The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) is a pan–African non-governmental organization (NGO) working to promote awareness of human rights in Africa and improve the effectiveness of the African Human Rights system. IHRDA envisions an African continent where all have access to justice via national, African and international human rights mechanisms.

IHRDA was founded by two human rights lawyers, Julia Harrington and the late Alpha Fall, who formerly worked for the Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. IHRDA was established in 1998 in Banjul, The Gambia. IHRDA’s determination in defending the human rights of Africans has been its motivating force ever since.

Defend

We « defend » victims of human rights violations before domestic and regional judicial bodies and also make sure that the judicial decisions lead to positive change.

Educate

IHRDA we “Educate” by training human rights actors and ensuring that domestic laws epitomize international human rights standards.

Inform

IHRDA we “Inform” by disseminating information about cases from the African Human Rights System, we also publish and distribute our books on various human rights issues.