The Human Rights Advocacy Centre (HRAC) is a not-for-profit, independent, non-partisan, research and advocacy Organization set up to advance and protect human rights in Ghana. Established and situated in Accra, the capital town of Ghana since 2008, the Organisation is a household name across Ghana due to the wide coverage of its services across the nation. The HRAC was established by Nana Oye Lithur, the former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection who is an ardent human rights advocate. She conceived the vision to set up the Organisation during her tenure of office as the Head of the African regional branch of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).
HRAC’s work focuses on three main areas; research, advocacy and the provision of free legal services. As part of efforts to contribute to the development of the human rights landscape in Ghana, the Organisation’s work revolves around the vulnerable and marginalised in society, including persons with disabilities, persons belonging to minority groups, refugees, women and children. Since its inception, the HRAC has provided human rights services in thematic areas including access to health care (sexual and reproductive health rights, human rights protection for persons living with HIV and Key Populations); access to justice through the provision of pro bono legal services and public interest litigation; democratic policing monitoring and advocacy; prison advocacy to protect the rights of prisoners; monitoring compliance with international human rights standards; and educating and creating awareness on human rights.
From its modest beginnings, the HRAC has grown to become a respected human rights Organisation, both locally and globally.