The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI)

Laureate Profile

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) is a leading force within Israel for the protection of human rights for all people, including Arab citizens living within Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. It has sought to end the practice of racial profiling at airports and to protect the right to privacy and freedom of expression and other rights that may be threatened by national security concerns. ACRI has challenged restrictions on the movement of West Bank residents and has worked to increase access to health services, education and adequate housing. It has achieved remarkable success in the courts in the area of LGBT rights, including gaining recognition of same-sex marriages that were performed abroad, as well as the legal adoption abroad of a child by the biological mother’s lesbian partner.