2023 Year in Review

Driving Transformative Human Rights Progress

A Year Like No Other: Letter from the ICAAD Team

Dear friends,

ICAAD was founded over a decade ago, after recognizing the need for human rights advocacy that drives systemic change. Rather than tackling each individual issue of discrimination, we developed a model to address the major human rights challenges of our time with the goal that this model echoes through future generations.

Innovation, multidisciplinary project design and close collaboration with local partners form the pillars of how we work. From deep engagement with communities most impacted by injustice – survivors of gender-based violence, indigenous communities, victims of hate crimes and more – we bring together diverse teams to problem-solve for lasting impact. Our initiatives are adaptive to the changing needs and priorities of the people we serve, and are built to be sustainable into the future.

This year, we have had our biggest impact yet. To address the persistent needs of climate-frontline communities, we published our Right to Life with Dignity advocacy brief which lays out a pioneering framework to protect the more than 60 million climate-displaced people around the world. Our work tackling gender-based violence has also made major inroads with the launch of TrackGBV Caribbean. With support from UN Women and partner law firms, we are working to change laws and strengthen protections for 14 million women and girls.

Hate crimes and hate speech are on the rise in the U.S. and around the world, which led us to launch our Countering Hate initiative this year. We identified where the major gaps in hate crimes data collection exist in the U.S., and are using this to more effectively advocate for marginalized communities in the country. Our arts and activism initiative also saw tremendous success this year. From an exhibition at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, law firm in New York, to an exhibit at an artspace in New Delhi, our resident artists are receiving unprecedented exposure for their collections that continues to grow.

As we look to the future, we’re acutely aware of the global challenges that exist in tackling systemic injustice. The climate crisis is only intensifying, with persistent lack of accountability by major carbon emitters to support those on the climate frontline. Gender-based violence continues to be one of the most entrenched human rights obstacles, with outdated laws and policies impeding access to justice. The rise of far-right movements is fueling division and hate, making it more difficult to foster community and solidarity.

Tackling these issues requires creative solutions. At ICAAD, we will continue working to reverse these trends so we can build a more equitable future. We hope you enjoy the above Year in Review, where you can read more about our impact, partnerships, and vision for the future. Thank you for being a part of our journey. 

With care,

The ICAAD Team

Hansdeep Singh, Jaspreet Singh, Erin Thomas, Jyoti Diwan and Sara Lobo