In close partnership with the Network of Human Rights Houses, HRHF advocates at international and intergovernmental level to advance and protect fundamental rights that underpin independent civil society and make it possible to hold institutions and individuals accountable. HRHF advocates for inclusion and active participation of civil society, reports on human rights trends, and works to strengthen international human rights mechanisms and standards in order to influence the situation at the national level.

• Freedom of expression
• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom of association
• The right to be a human rights defender

At the same time, Human Rights Houses and their members work on a wider range of rights, reflecting the needs and contexts in which they operate. 

HRHF offers an advisory role on opportunities at intergovernmental and international organisations for Network members to advance domestic goals within them. HRHF also works to strengthen engagement and cooperation between HRHs and other domestic and international human rights partners and stakeholders to advance national advocacy objectives. 

HRHF targets decision-makers and states to raise awareness and lobby for policies related to our strategy including at the UN, EU, CoE and OSCE. 

HRHF engages with international organisations, and their member States, to ensure the inclusion and active participation of civil society. HRHF also provides recommendations to strengthen human rights mechanisms and standards and reports on human rights trends. By reporting regularly on the situation of HRDs in the Network, HRHF identifies and highlights human rights trends in the region.

HRHF holds consultative status at the United Nations and participatory status at the Council of Europe.