Discover Human Rights Organizations in Brooklyn, NY dedicated to supporting and empowering your community. Our directory features organizations committed to addressing the unique needs and challenges of the community through advocacy, programs, and services.
Founded on April 11, 1918, the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association emerged from the vision of nine pioneering women lawyers who united with a powerful mission: to achieve equality, diversity, fairness, and opportunity for women lawyers and all women. Based in Brooklyn, NY, the BWBA has grown into a robust organization of over 400 members that continues to honor its founding principles while spearheading meaningful advances for women in the legal field. Through its affiliation with the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY), the organization has championed countless initiatives that have shaped the legal landscape and expanded opportunities for women professionals. The Brooklyn Women's Bar Association represents more than a professional association—it embodies a century-long commitment to empowerment, advocacy, and community building. Members join a circle of influence where collaboration, mentorship, and leadership development are central to the organization's culture. By becoming part of this prestigious Brooklyn, NY-based community, professionals gain access to a network of advocates committed to making a tangible difference in the legal profession and beyond. The BWBA's legacy of progress demonstrates that when women lawyers unite around shared values of equality and opportunity, transformative change becomes possible.
Based in Brooklyn, New York, the Arab American Bar Association represents a vital community resource addressing a significant gap in the legal profession. Despite New York being home to one of the largest concentrations of Arabs in the United States, the presence and participation of individuals of Arab descent in the legal profession remains limited. AABA was founded to change this reality by cultivating interest in law among Arab American youth and ensuring their success from law school through professional practice. The organization serves as a gathering place where Arab American attorneys, legal professionals, and community members can connect, share experiences, and work toward common goals. AABA's mission centers on empowering underrepresented and marginalized members of society by making the law more accessible and advocating for their rights. The association actively supports social justice initiatives and public interest work that benefit disempowered communities. Through mentorship programs, educational events, and professional networking opportunities, AABA helps build a more inclusive legal profession. The organization also champions proper legislation and legal reforms while promoting human rights and humanitarian activities. By creating a platform that celebrates Arab American achievements and addresses community needs, AABA strengthens both the legal profession and the broader Brooklyn community it serves.
Serving the Brooklyn, NY-based global community, the Women and Gender Constituency represents a movement rooted in the belief that gender justice and climate justice are inseparable. Founded in 2009 by five pioneering organizations including Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), ENERGIA, Gender CC, LIFE e.V., and WEDO, the WGC emerged from a vision to connect gender justice advocates with the global climate policy process. Today, the organization embodies a collective commitment to building power through feminist organizing principles: decentralized, collaborative, and designed to last. The WGC's mission centers on advancing feminist climate action by embedding gender-just policies within the UNFCCC and beyond, guided by core values including bodily autonomy, racial justice, intersectionality, and community-led solutions over corporate control. Members of the WGC represent diverse backgrounds and regions, united by their dedication to ensuring that those most affected by climate change lead the solutions. The organization provides a platform for accredited NGO observers and grassroots activists to participate in UN climate negotiations, coordinate shared strategy, and strengthen collective advocacy. Through their regional caucuses and advocacy collective, the WGC connects local movements with global climate policy, amplifying the voices of women, girls, and gender-diverse people. As a coordinated network stewarded by WEDO, the WGC continues to challenge extractive and patriarchal economic models while advancing transformative, scalable climate solutions grounded in gender equality, food sovereignty, and just transitions.
Brooklyn Community Pride Center emerged from a vision to create dedicated community space and resources for LGBTQ Brooklynites in their own borough. Incorporated in 2008 and granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 2009, BCPC has grown from a small office at Brooklyn Borough Hall into the essential hub for LGBTQ community connection and support across New York City's most populous borough. The organization's mission centers on uplifting and empowering LGBTQ Brooklyn through socially conscious and culturally responsive initiatives that strengthen the entire community. What distinguishes BCPC is its deep commitment to building a stronger, safer Brooklyn for everyone by placing the voices and priorities of LGBTQ residents at the center of program development and advocacy work. The center operates as a welcoming home where community members find not only practical support services but genuine connection and belonging. Led by a dedicated team including Executive Director Kenrick Ross and staff members committed to social work and community programming, BCPC demonstrates authentic investment in the wellbeing of those it serves. The organization actively invites community participation through volunteer opportunities and collaborative programming, recognizing that meaningful change happens when LGBTQ Brooklynites have agency in shaping their own community resources. By fostering partnerships with other organizations and continuously responding to emerging community needs, BCPC has positioned itself as a trusted anchor institution where LGBTQ individuals throughout Brooklyn can access support, build relationships, and celebrate their authentic selves.
Based in Brooklyn, NY, the Audre Lorde Project serves as a home base for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two-Spirit, Trans, and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color seeking to organize, support one another, and advocate for their communities. Established in 1994 out of a collective vision to address the unique challenges facing LGBTSTGNC People of Color, the organization has become a cornerstone of community care and resistance in New York City. The Audre Lorde Project is deeply rooted in the principle of struggling across differences—bringing together people of African, Black Caribbean, Arab, Asian Pacific Islander, Latinx, and Native/Indigenous descent to build solidarity around shared experiences of oppression and liberation. Committed to centering women's leadership and perspectives throughout its structure and work, the organization actively challenges the historic role of sexism that has undermined community strength. The Audre Lorde Project believes that the most powerful organizing emerges when communities themselves drive decision-making and shape the programs that serve them. Named in honor of the visionary Black lesbian poet and activist Audre Lorde, the organization embodies her legacy of intersectional resistance and community care. Through its work in Brooklyn and across the five boroughs, the Audre Lorde Project remains dedicated to creating transformative spaces where LGBTSTGNC People of Color can heal, organize, and collectively build toward a more just world.
Based in New York, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) represents a collaborative international movement dedicated to protecting and promoting the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Iranian people. The organization brings together award-winning journalists, researchers, lawyers, activists, writers, and multimedia specialists from around the world who share a commitment to human rights advocacy and accountability. What distinguishes CHRI is its unique model of combining international expertise with direct connections to independent investigators and human rights defenders operating inside Iran, creating a bridge between on-the-ground realities and the international community.
CHRI's mission extends beyond documentation to meaningful impact through strategic partnerships with activists, civil society organizations, and international bodies worldwide. The organization believes in the power of accurate information and compelling storytelling to drive awareness and change, which is why it invests in producing diverse content formats—from traditional reports and articles to innovative multimedia projects and interactive platforms. By serving as a trusted voice on Iranian human rights issues, CHRI empowers journalists, policymakers, and citizens with the information needed to understand complex human rights challenges and advocate for meaningful reform. The organization's commitment to independence and nonpartisan analysis ensures that all stakeholders in the New York-based center work toward a shared vision of advancing basic rights and freedoms for the Iranian people while maintaining accountability to international human rights standards.
Since its establishment in 1988, the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association has been deeply rooted in the Sunset Park, Borough Park, and Bay Ridge neighborhoods of Brooklyn, NY, growing from a response to community needs into a trusted institution serving thousands of families. BCA emerged during a transformative period when Chinese immigrants began revitalizing the Sunset Park area, and the organization has remained committed to that same spirit of community building and mutual support. Today, the association serves as a bridge between the Asian-American community and government and private service organizations, fostering congenial relationships and breaking down barriers to access. The organization's mission extends beyond service delivery—BCA actively works to make Brooklyn neighborhoods better and more prosperous places for residents of all backgrounds to live, work, and raise families. By operating senior centers, early childhood programs, youth initiatives, and community education centers across multiple Brooklyn locations, BCA demonstrates its commitment to serving people across all life stages. The association's bilingual staff and culturally responsive approach reflect deep understanding of the communities it serves. From recent immigrants navigating citizenship processes to multi-generational families seeking educational opportunities, BCA provides compassionate, accessible support rooted in decades of community presence and trust.
Based in Brooklyn, NY, the Black Alliance for Just Immigration serves as a vital organizing hub for African American and Black immigrant communities seeking to advance their collective power and vision for justice. BAJI's work is rooted in the belief that grassroots organizing, combined with strategic coalition-building, can transform systems and create lasting social change. The organization educates and engages community members through vibrant dialogues that explore the intersections of race, identity, migration, and globalization—topics central to the lived experiences of Black communities. With organizing committees active in New York, Georgia, California, and Florida, and staff presence in Texas and Minnesota, BAJI demonstrates a deep commitment to building sustained relationships across multiple regions. The organization recognizes the prophetic power of faith communities and actively works to harness their voice in the struggle for racial justice. BAJI's approach combines capacity-building with direct action, providing training and technical assistance to partner organizations while simultaneously initiating campaigns that push for systemic change. By fostering connections between diverse segments of the Black diaspora and supporting grassroots leaders, BAJI creates the conditions for community members to discover their own power and agency. The organization's presence in Brooklyn and across the country reflects its understanding that racial justice requires coordinated, sustained effort rooted in authentic community relationships and shared vision for transformation.