The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) is an independent, international non-governmental organisation dedicated to the practical realisation of human rights across the Commonwealth, with offices in London, Delhi, and Accra. Through rigorous research, strategic advocacy, capacity building, and coalition-building, CHRI works to expose rights violations, strengthen accountability, advance evidence-based legal and policy reform, and amplify the voices of marginalised communities. Accountability and meaningful participation in governance are central to CHRI’s mandate. Our work focuses on access to justice, the right to information, media freedom, and contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking. CHRI is the founder and Secretariat of the Commonwealth 8.7 Network, a global, member-driven coalition of over 100 frontline civil society organisations committed to combating modern slavery, forced labour, and human trafficking through shared learning, coordinated advocacy, and institutional strengthening. Accredited with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), CHRI engages regularly with UN human rights mechanisms to advance the priorities of both the organisation and its network partners. As a Commonwealth Accredited Organisation, CHRI also advocates within Commonwealth institutions and processes to promote alignment with international human rights standards.
