THE POWER OF LAW MEETS THE POWER OF PEOPLE IN DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

EarthRights is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that combines the power of law with the power of people in defense of human rights and the environment, which we define as “earth rights.” We take legal action against perpetrators of earth rights abuses, train activists, and work with communities to demand meaningful and lasting change.

We are a team of community leaders, campaigners, and legal strategists who challenge the powerful corporations, governments, and financial institutions that violate peoples’ rights and destroy our planet for profit.

We rise in defense of communities and the planet, using the power of law and the power of people in pursuit of justice.

EIN #: 04-3265555

Read our institutional policies.

We use global campaign strategies to influence local and state governments, collaborate with communities, and highlight injustices fostered by corporations and state actors. See our campaigns.
We equip emerging civil society leaders with information and tools to fight for their earth rights in local, regional, and international campaigns. See the EarthRights school.
In courts, we challenge some of the world’s most powerful corporations for human rights abuses. We develop coordinated legal strategies with communities harmed by earth rights abuses. See our litigation and legal strategy.

Our 2020-2024 Strategic Plan

The Strategic Plan presents our vision of a world in which the worst impacts of climate change are averted, earth rights defenders are able to effectively carry out their work without fear of incrimination, and corporations are held accountable for the harms they cause. See our Strategic Plan.
25 years of EarthRights: We’re so grateful for our supporters, allies, and partners who have helped EarthRights hold bad actors accountable and who have worked with earth rights defenders worldwide for over 25 years.

THE POWER OF LAW MEETS THE POWER OF PEOPLE

In the 1990s, three young people joined together to leverage the power of law and the power of people to defend communities in Burma (Myanmar) from human rights abuses. Two multinational oil companies, Total and Unocal, joined with the Burmese army to militarize a pipeline project, resulting in forced labor, land grabs, torture, rape, extrajudicial killings, and attacks on Indigenous and ethnic minority communities.

These companies tried to profit off of human rights violations. Two young U.S. law students, Katie and Tyler, and an exiled Burmese human rights activist, Ka Hsaw Wa, made sure that they didn’t get away with it.

In 1996, they filed a lawsuit against Unocal for egregious human rights violations, and in 2003 Unocal was forced to settle. From that groundbreaking lawsuit, EarthRights was formed. And now, over 25 years later, our growing team of campaigners, community activists, legal experts, and storytellers continue to secure earth rights for all.

Those of us who have been dedicated to protecting humans and those who have focused on the environment must recognize that we work at cross purposes if we do not work together.”

–Ka Hsaw Wa, EarthRights Co-Founder and Executive Director

CONNECT WITH OUR TEAM

Check out our contact us page for more details or send us an email at:
infoUSA@earthrights.org
infoPeru@earthrights.org
infoasia@earthrights.org

EarthRights’ Institutional Policies