“Recognition of the inherent dignity and rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

- Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Hitik Law Pro Bono Human Rights Program

At Hitik Law we are dedicated to advocating for victims of gross violations of human rights.

Through our expertise we strive to address cases of grave human rights abuses, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing. We advocate throughout UN human rights mechanisms, other international organizations, and advise on legal cases brought under universal jurisdiction. We are dedicated to thought leadership, drawing attention to human rights violations and fostering public awareness and advocacy.

Our activities are mainly concentrated on the protection of human rights and the promotion of the rule of law, with a geographic focus on Armenia and Artsakh.

Our Pro Bono Human Rights Projects

  • United Nations Advocacy

    Our law firm submitted an alternative review to Azerbaijan’s 2023 Universal Periodic Review.

    NGO Advising

    Hitik Law serves as a human rights law advisor to The Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ), a non-profit organization aimed at collecting substantive evidence of Azerbaijan’s war crimes in order to pursue international legal redress.

    Read more here: CFTJ Geneva 2022.

  • Armenia Center for Dispute Resolution

    Our principal attorney is the founder of the Armenia Center for Dispute Resolution. The main mission of the center is to promote the development of alternative dispute resolution in Armenia, to provide Armenian citizens and businesses with affordable and reliable dispute resolution, as well as to serve as a regional hub for arbitration for international investors.

    NGO Consultancy

    We consult on rule of law and justice capacity-building in the Republic of Armenia for organizations around the world. Some of our recent projects have included designing in anti-corruption programs, reforming legal clinical educational in Armenian law schools, and advising the Armenian government in alternative dispute resolution best practices.

  • Education and Outreach

    Hitik Law gives seminars, participates in speaking events, podcasts, and publishes articles to educate the public on matters of public international law facing the indigenous Armenian community of Artsakh.

    Lobbying in Congress

    Talin Hitik delivered speeches in front of the U.S. House of Representatives on May 7, 2024, and the United States Senate on May 8, 2024, as part of discussions on U.S. interests and ongoing security, economic and legal processes in the South Caucasus.

    Research and Publications

    Talin Hitik's and Andrew Devedjian's article titled "Indigenous Displacement: Legal Pathways for Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenians and Displaced Indigenous Communities" will be published in the Loyola Journal of Public Interest Law.

Third Annual CFTJ Conference

Hitik Law Principal Attorney Talin Hitik served as the moderator of two impactful sessions at the Third Annual Center for Truth and Justice Conference, dedicated to human rights and accountability. Click below to learn more about our contributions.

November 11, 2024

NEW REPORT: Azerbaijani Regime Ethnically Cleansed Nagorno-Karabakh According to International Fact-Finding Mission

Our principal attorney, Talin Hitik, served as the editor of a landmark international report by Freedom House and partner organizations, which concludes that Azerbaijani authorities conducted a systematic campaign to ethnically cleanse Nagorno-Karabakh of its Armenian population. The findings underscore a deliberate effort to depopulate the region, raising critical concerns under international law.

Key findings include:

  • Azerbaijani actions constitute ethnic cleansing, using forced displacement to achieve this goal.

  • The displacement of 100,000 ethnic Armenians in September 2023 marked the peak of a prolonged, deliberate campaign.

  • Ethnic Armenians faced extensive violations of their fundamental rights and freedoms.

  • The erasure of Armenian cultural and historical presence in Nagorno-Karabakh remains ongoing.

These findings underscore serious and ongoing concerns under international law.

To learn more, read the full report here.

News

  • November 11, 2024

    Principal Attorney Talin Hitik served as the editor of a landmark international report by Freedom House and partner organizations, which concludes that Azerbaijani authorities conducted a systematic campaign to ethnically cleanse Nagorno-Karabakh of its Armenian population.

  • May 12, 2024

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik participated in an episode of the Scholars’ Circle podcast on the topic of "Armenian human rights group petitions ICC to investigate Azerbaijan for genocide against Armenians in Armenia".

  • May 10, 2024

    Hitik Law co-hosted the American Society of International Law Midwest Interest Group 2024 Virtual Works-in-Progress Workshop.

  • May 7-8, 2024

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik delivered a speech in front of the U.S. House of Representatives on May 7, 2024, and the United States Senate on May 8, 2024, as part of the discussions “Peace in the South Caucasus and Armenia’s Strategic Shift”.

  • April 4, 2024

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik moderated the section “Private Lawfare: International Arbitration, Global Litigation and Armed Conflict” during the Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law (ASIL).

  • March 8, 2024

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik participated in the “Indigenous Displacement: Legal Pathways for Artsakh Armenians and Displaced Indigenous Communities” conference at Loyola University New Orleans.

  • February 21, 2024

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik delivered a lecture for Illinois divorce attorneys on “Navigating Cross-Border Issues in Illinois Divorce Matters”.

  • December 18, 2023

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik delivered a lecture for Chicago Bar Association titled “A Practical Guide to Transnational Litigation: The Hague Service and Evidence Conventions”.

  • November 28-29, 2023

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik participated in the “Security Summit: Rethinking Armenia's Geopolitical and Defense Trajectory”, organized by the Institute for Security Analysis (ISA).

  • September 28, 2023

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik participated in the discussion “Decoding Armenophobia in Politics: Understanding the Impact and Resonance of Discriminatory Rhetoric”.

  • September 22, 2023

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik participated in the Roundtable “Crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh: Roundtable Panel on Recent Developments”, held by the Center for Armenian Studies, University of Michigan.

  • November 14, 2022

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik participated in the conference “War in Cities: An International Humanitarian Law perspective”, organized by the Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor and the Canadian Red Cross.

  • August 24, 2022

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik was a guest speaker on the episode “Azerbaijan’s Violations of International Law Through the Lens of Racial Discrimination” of EVN Podcast.

  • June 1-3, 2022

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik delivered a speech during The Center for Truth and Justice ("CFTJ") first international conference "Human Rights and Accountability: The Aftermath of War".

  • September 22, 2021

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik delivered a lecture for Chicago Bar Association titled “A Practical Guide to Obtaining Jurisdiction over and Discovery from Foreign Parties and Witnesses”.

  • April 14, 2020

    Principal Attorney Talin A Hitik delivered a lecture for Chicago Bar Association titled “The Hague Conventions: Cross-Border Family Law”.