As part of Human Rights Watch's longstanding commitment to support human rights for all, the organization works to secure increased recognition of and respect for internationally recognized human rights in the United States. While various thematic divisions of Human Rights Watch address human rights violations arising from domestic policies and practices, and while there are many human rights problems in the United States, the US Program of Human Rights Watch prioritizes those that:

1. Arise from the exercise of the coercive, penal, or custodial powers of the government, primarily those that affect the right to liberty, and the right to be free from discrimination as well as torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment; and/or

2. Are experienced by persons who are particularly vulnerable to having their rights violated because of their race, ethnicity, sexual identity, national origin, immigrant status, gender, age, socioeconomic status, or alleged or actual criminal conduct, and who are likely to have difficulty vindicating their rights through the political process or in the courts.

Within these priorities, we have focused on these five areas of work:

• Excessive Punishments and Restrictions
• Discrimination and Abuse of Discretion
• Prison and Detention Conditions
• Unfair Immigration Policies
• The Failure to Protect

Download the complete brochure >> (2MB).