Arab Human Rights Fund

The idea of establishing an Arab human rights fund was prompted by the desire to: increase resources for human rights protection in a focused and targeted manner, reduce dependence on foreign funding and encourage social justice philanthropy in the region.

The process of establishing the Arab Human Rights Fund (AHRF) started in 2002 with the formation of a four-member Preparatory Committee. This Committee was provided with financial and administrative support from the Ford Foundation. The Committee initiated a series of studies exploring the feasibility of establishing an endowed and sustainable funding agency that is devoted to supporting long-term efforts to promote human rights and the rule of law in the Arab region.

The Committee has met quarterly since 2003 to identify and contract required research, undertake initial assessments of results and establish the legal and practical foundations for the establishment of the AHRF. Encouraged by their findings and enthusiastic support from the field and internationally, the Committee established the AHRF as a registered organization and formed its Board of Trustees in 2006.