Advancing Universal Rights

The Carter Center supports global and domestic human rights defenders who are working against democratic backsliding and increasing authoritarianism by providing convening space, thought leadership, and technical assistance. 

Since 2003, the Human Rights Defenders Forum has provided defenders a safe place to build solidarity and exchange methods to advance human rights in the spirit of President Carter’s lifelong example. The gathering brings together defenders, experts, and policymakers to air the experiences of those on the front lines around the globe. Our 2024 forum brought together 85 participants from 42 countries, including four U.N. Special Rapporteurs, the Deputy Secretary-General for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and former president of Ireland Mary Robinson.

In 2024, we launched the ACCELERATE funding mechanism in partnership with DT Institute to support human rights defenders through small grants.

The Carter Center’s Women’s Rights Programming advances President Carter’s legacy of promoting gender equality, advocating for more women in leadership roles, and fighting discrimination, violence, and abuse. 

Exemplified in current projects like Women’s Resilience in Environmental Stewardship and Empowerment (SheRise), we aim to support and champion women’s leadership in the global response to climate change. Past initiatives have included partnerships with interfaith religious leaders in Ghana and Nigeria to change harmful social norms that threatened women’s safety and prosperity.

Despite the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s vast natural resources, most Congolese people have not benefited from billions in mining investments because of corruption and mismanagement. Since 2009, The Carter Center has worked to achieve climate and environmental justice by strengthening civil society organizations and communities so that they can engage decision-makers and protect themselves from the harmful impacts of oil, gas, and mining operations.

The Center trains local partners to conduct human rights impact assessments and monitor mining companies, documenting environmental, health, and socioeconomic harms affecting communities. We work with Congolese organizations to help them develop and expand their expertise so that they can engage with companies and government officials to advocate for greater transparency and accountability in the sector and for their share of the profits their land generates.

For decades, The Carter Center has promoted comprehensive peace in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory as a neutral, unbiased actor. The Center has maintained an office in the West Bank since 2005, simultaneously supporting Palestinians’ aspirations for self-determination and human rights while affirming Israel’s right to exist and live in safety. We work with high-level decision-makers and grassroots activists to advance conflict resolution, human rights, and democratic practice while bringing together diverse political voices to encourage consensus-building for peace.

Recognizing the escalating pressures on regional human rights organizations, we help provide resources to support carefully selected Palestinian and Israeli organizations facing funding challenges and operational constraints in an increasingly restrictive environment.