The International Human Rights Network is a non-governmental organisation supporting others in applying human rights based approaches in their work. Support is provided to states, inter-governmental organisations such as UN agencies and regional organisations, State agencies, NGOs and other civil society organisations. Capacity building support and advocacy covers a range of interrelated contexts, including: development; conflict prevention, mitigation, resolution; Democratisation; corporate responsibility; humanitarian response and human rights fieldwork. Network activities include own-initiative projects & consultancy (training, evaluation and other capacity building): pro bono support to other not-for-profit organisations as well as advocacy.

The Network evolved from The International Human Rights Trust, established as a charitable Trust in 1996 by Karen Kenny and Brian McKeown. Brian McKeown served as Director of Trocaire, the Irish international development agency for twenty-one years and was President of the European Union Development NGOs Liaison Committee. The principles developed in the Trust’s work continue to be developed and advocated by IHRN.

IHRN experts include practitioners across a range of disciplines, united by a shared commitment to the promotion of human rights based approaches in contexts including, development; governance, with particular reference to conflict prevention-mitigation-resolution. Experts available for assignment include individuals specifically trained by IHRN in its annual training programmes as well as tailored intensive consultant workshops.