Home for Human Rights

Home for Human Rights (HHR) is one of the oldest human rights organisations in Sri Lanka. Founded by the late Francis Xavier (LL.B., 1976, Called to the Bars of Sri Lanka and Ontario, Canada) (July 25 1933-June 10 2016), HHR has sought to address human rights violations against the marginalized and the oppressed population of Sri Lanka since 1977. HHR’s mandate is to document and advocate against recognised human rights violations as set out in the International Bill of Rights.{{cite web | url=https://reliefweb.int/report/sri-lanka/sri-lanka-dispatch-5-home-human-rights-meets-villagers | title=Sri Lanka: Dispatch #5 - Home for Human Rights meets with villagers | publisher=Relief Web |date=7 February 2005| accessdate=13 July 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/45f147fb2f.html | title=Sri Lanka: Recourse available to Jaffna Tamils against human rights violations, including places where complaints can be lodged (2002-2005) | publisher=RefWorld | date=9 December 2005 | accessdate=13 July 2021}}{{cite web | url=http://www.ipsnews.net/2010/04/rights-sri-lanka-how-the-war-gave-tamil-women-more-space/ | title=RIGHTS-SRI LANKA: How the War Gave Tamil Women More Space | publisher=ipsnews | date=20 April 2010 | accessdate=13 July 2021 | author=Feizal Samath}}{{cite web | url=https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/af557c/pdf/ | title=Security and human rights situation, entry and exit procedures and personal documentation Report on fact-finding mission to Sri Lanka | publisher=Danish Immigration Service | date=1 May 2002 | accessdate=13 July 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://www.dawnnet.org/uploads/documents/ANALYSES_FINAL%20FULL%20PRST%20BOOK_2012-Mar.PDF | title=Women Transforming Peace Activism in a Fierce New World South and Southeast Asia | publisher=Dawnnet | accessdate=13 July 2021 | pages=114-129}}

HHR history can be traced back to the instrumental activism of Francis Xavier, Kandiah Kandasamy and Seelan Kadirgamar. They operated under the guidance of S. Kathiravelpillai, member of parliament for Kopay. HHR was converted into a charitable trust in 1991 by Francis Xavier and in 1995, Sherine Xavier commenced her tenure as executive director. Under Sherine's guidance from 1995 to 2001 and 2006 to 2015, HHR grew to be one of the largest human rights organisation in Sri Lanka. The trust is managed by 5 trustees.{{cite web | url=https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/newsdetail/index/5/14165/lankan-tamil-issue-wont-go-away-from-world-arena-with-us-quitting-unhrc | title=Lankan Tamil Issue Won't Go Away From World Arena With | publisher=The Citizen | date=21 June 2018 | accessdate=13 July 2021}}

HHR was located in Colombo and had branch offices in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Akkaraipattu, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Mannar, Killinochi, Mullaithivu and Hatton.