International Centre for Human Rights

This article is about a Canadian-based NGO created in 2000. For the US-based Iranian human rights NGO created in 2007, see Center for Human Rights in Iran.
International Centre for Human Rights
FormationOctober 2000 (2000-10)
TypeNonprofit
Registration no.1810535
PurposeHuman rights advocacy
Location
Official language
English, Farsi
President
Ardeshir Zarezadeh
Websitehumanrightsintl.com

The International Centre for Human Rights (ICHR) is a Canadian non-government organization that aims to promote human rights worldwide and in Iran. The group's office is in Toronto.[1][2]

Creation

ICHR was founded in October 2000 by Ardeshir Zarezadeh, a former political prisoner from Iran.[3][4] ICHR is affiliated with the NGO One Free World International.[5]

Activities

ICHR has advocated for sanctioning the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for being a terrorist group.[6] In 2012, ICHR held rallies to release Iranian political prisoner Saeed Malekpour.[7] ICHR stated that the January 2026 massacres of protesters in Iran were crimes against humanity and that under the 2005 Responsibility to protect (R2P) principle of the United Nations General Assembly, the international community had a legal obligation to intervene in Iran, overriding the principle of national sovereignty.[2]

In December 2014, Mohammad Seddigh Kaboudvand received an award in recognition of his work defending the rights of Kurds in Iran and neighbouring countries.[8]

In December 2023, ICHR gave Manouchehr Bakhtiariv a humanitarian award for his campaign for seeking justice after the IRGC killed his son. Canadian MP Melissa Lantsman attended the award ceremony.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Admin. "About". International Centre for Human Rights. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  2. ^ a b Zarezadeh, Ardeshir (Jan 13, 2026). "OPINION: Hope on horizon for stability and political freedom in Iran". Archived from the original on 2026-03-20. Retrieved Jan 27, 2026.
  3. ^ Zarezadeh, Ardeshir (January 21, 2026). "Opinion: Hope for freedom on horizon as Iran's mullahs face street pressure". Windsor Star. Archived from the original on 2026-03-21. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  4. ^ "View Corporation". www.appmybizaccount.gov.on.ca. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  5. ^ Ellerton, Jamie (2016-02-06). "WATCH: The Path Forward for Human Rights in Iran". OFWI. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  6. ^ Zarezadeh, Ardeshir (Oct 20, 2022). "Ardeshir Zarezadeh: Sanctions are not enough — Canada must put Iran's IRGC on its terrorist blacklist". National Post. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  7. ^ Mawani, Farah (May 10, 2012). "Help Free a Canadian Prisoner under Torture in Iran". Huffpost. Archived from the original on 2025-08-17. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  8. ^ "IRAN : LIBÉRATION DE L'ACTIVISTE KURDE IRANIEN M. KABOUDVAND" (PDF). Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  9. ^ "Father of Slain Protester Wins International Human Rights Award". www.iranintl.com. 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
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