Dear friends of the Centre for Applied Human Rights

2022 has been a year of significant change at the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR), as it has been globally. On the international stage it can be hard to find good news; we are witnesses to the ongoing conflict resulting from the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, suppression of women and youth-led protests in Iran, large-scale repression of human rights, in particular of women and minorities, in Afghanistan and Myanmar, the COVID 19 pandemic and its legacies, severe economic challenges and a new era of austerity. Sometimes it is necessary to find hope in small steps, micro initiatives, and personal stories of resistance. CAHR's role at times like these is to contribute to this wider goal of keeping hope alive by providing a reminder of alternatives and informed reflection on transformative societal change, and by standing alongside those on the frontline of human rights activism.

This year CAHR has welcomed several new staff and human rights defenders at risk, who have brought energy and ideas to an already thriving centre. Some of our achievements in 2022 provide recognition of our collective work for many years – such as the recently awarded UNESCO Chair on Protecting Human Rights Defenders and Expanding Political Space, and a new two year grant from the Open Society Foundations that establishes the Extended Fellowship Scheme for Human Rights Defenders from Conflict and Protracted Crisis Contexts at CAHR.

In addition, centre staff have secured large research grants on arts and human rights, and indigenous approaches to protection, and are planning a major new applied research programme. The Generating Respect Hub will develop socio-legal, co-productive research on norms-compliance in armed conflict that leverages the influence potential of societal actors. For the first time in three years, our teaching returned fully to normal including international and local human rights project placements for our postgraduate students. Finally, we are in the process of developing a five year strategy that seeks to strengthen CAHR’s mission as an activist centre by building on our successes and strengths and embracing new opportunities.

Please continue to engage with and support us, as we undertake to do the same for you.

All good wishes to you from CAHR for 2023.