Human Rights and Regional Partnerships

(en español abajo)

CGRS has special expertise in conditions in the countries from which many asylum seekers flee, including Mexico, Haiti, and Northern Central America. Our researchers document the profound human rights violations that force people to flee these countries, as well as the often-harrowing circumstances they face on the treacherous journey to the U.S. border. We offer access to evidence packets, expert declarations, and other resources on human rights conditions in refugee-sending countries through our extensive Technical Assistance (TA) Library, available free of charge to attorneys representing asylum seekers.

We joined the Latin America Working Group (LAWG) as coalition partners, and work with civil society organizations in the United States and the region to address the root causes of forced migration and contribute to the development of a more robust regional system of refugee protection. We advocate in Congress, with the executive branch, and internationally before the Organization of American States and the United Nations.

Selected Reports and Analyses

Full Submission to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: Hearing on Widespread Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls in Haiti, Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI); Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH); Komisyon Fanm Viktim pou Viktim (KOFAVIV); Nègès Mawon; Réseau National de Défense des Droits Humains (RNDDH); the Haitian Women’s Collective (HWC); the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS); the Human Rights and Gender Justice Clinic, CUNY School of Law; and MADRE (March 2023).

Civil Society Organizations Welcome the Introduction of House Resolution to End Corruption in Guatemala, a statement joined by CGRS and 13 other groups (November 2022). 

Groups Across the Americas Condemn U.S. Government Expansion of Title 42 and Regional Restrictions to Asylum Access for Venezuelans, a statement joined by CGRS and over 100 organizations (November 2022). 

Report to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on the Situation of Women and Girl Victims of Sexual Violence in Haiti, a report filed by CGRS, Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), Komisyon Fanm Viktim pou Viktim (KOFAVIV), the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), CUNY School of Law’s Human Rights and Gender Justice Clinic, and MADRE (October 2022). (Also available in French)

Migrant Rights Groups Urge Presidents Biden and López Obrador to Prioritize Human Rights and Migrant Protections in Bilateral Meeting, a letter joined by CGRS and 84 organizations (July 2022).

U.S., Latin American, and Caribbean Organizations respond to the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, a statement by CGRS and 25 other organizations (June 2022)

Guiding principles for a regional framework on migration and protection in the Americas, CGRS, Center for Democracy in the Americas, CEJIL, Latin America Working Group, Human Rights Watch, Instituto para las Mujeres en la Migración, Oxfam, Refugees International, WOLA, and Women’s Refugee Commission (April 2022). 

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence against Migrants in the Darién Gap, a letter to Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, signed by CGRS, Haitian Bridge Alliance, and RFK Human Rights (April 2022).

Submission for Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants: Human rights violations at international borders: trends, prevention and accountability, Al Otro Lado, CGRS, CEJIL, FIRRP, Global Justice Clinic, Oxfam, Penn Law Transnational Legal Clinic, RFK Human Rights Center, UT Law School Immigration Clinic (February 2022).

Stop U.S. deportations and abuse against Haitians on the move: An urgent step towards creating just policies for Haitians, a factsheet by Amnesty International, CGRS, Global Justice Clinic, Groupe d’Appui aux Rapatriés et Réfugiés, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Refugees International, Rezo Fwotalye Jano Siksè, and SJM Haiti (December 2021). 

Request for precautionary measures to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of asylum seekers who have been or would be expelled from the United States under Title 42, Al Otro Lado, CGRS, FIRRP, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Human Rights First, Oxfam, Project Corazon, RAICES, RFK Human Rights Center, Transgender Law Center, UT Law School Immigration Clinic, University Network for Human Rights, WRC, Yale Law School (October 2021). 

Impacts of U.S. and Mexican migration enforcement on migrant and refugee rights in Mexico, a memo by Asylum Access Mexico, CGRS, COMDHSM, Haitian Bridge Alliance, IMUMI, KIND, LAWG, Quixote Center, Witness at the Border, WOLA, WRC (September 2021) 

Doubling Down on Deterrence: Access to Asylum Under Biden, explainer by Asylum Access Mexico, CGRS, Global Justice Clinic, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Human Rights First, IMUMI, LAWGEF, Witness at the Border, WOLA, and Women's Refugee Commission (September 2021)

Karen Musalo, El Salvador: Root Causes and Just Asylum Policy Responses, 18 Hastings Race & Poverty L.J. 178 (Summer 2021).

Expanding Access to Protections for Refugees and Migrants in Central America and Mexico, recommendations by CGRS, Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Church World Service, IMUMI, Kids in Need of Defense, Latin America Working Group, WOLA, Women's Refugee Commission (May 2021).  

Implementation of the Mexican Legal Reforms that Prohibit Detention of Accompanied and Unaccompanied Migrant Children, Asylum Access, CGRS, IMUMI, International Detention Coalition, KIND, LAWG, and Women's Refugee Commission (March 2021).

A Journey of Hope: Haitian Women’s Migration to Tapachula, Mexico, CGRS, Haitian Bridge Alliance, IMUMI (Jan. 2021).

El Salvador--A Peace Worse Than War: Violence, Gender and a Failed Legal Response, 30 Yale Journal of Law and Feminism 3 (2018), Karen Musalo.

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Derechos humanos y alianzas regionales

CGRS tiene experiencia especial en las condiciones en los países de los que provienen muchos solicitantes de asilo, incluidos México, Haití y el norte de Centroamérica. Nuestros investigadores documentan las profundas violaciones a los derechos humanos que obligan a las personas a huir de estos países, así como las desgarradoras circunstancias que a menudo enfrentan durante el difícil viaje hacia la frontera de Estados Unidos. Ofrecemos acceso a paquetes de evidencia, declaraciones de peritos, y otros recursos sobre la situación de derechos humanos en países de origen a través de nuestra Biblioteca de Asistencia Técnica, disponible de manera gratuita para abogados que representan a personas solicitantes de asilo.

Formamos parte de la coalición de aliados de Latin American Working Group (LAWG), y trabajamos con organizaciones de la sociedad civil en la región, así como en Estados Unidos, para abordar las causas fundamentales de la migración forzada y desarrollar un sistema regional de protección de refugiados más sólido. Incidimos en el Congreso y la rama ejecutiva, e internacionalmente ante la Organización de Estados Americanos y las Naciones Unidas.