Human Rights

The ACLU of Puerto Rico defends the human rights and dignity of every person on the island. From combating political repression and government overreach to protecting access to healthcare, housing, and justice, we work to ensure that Puerto Rico’s laws and institutions uphold fundamental freedoms for all.

Human Rights

What you need to know

1937

The ACLU’s first human rights investigation in Puerto Rico exposed political repression during the Ponce Massacre, setting the stage for decades of civil rights advocacy.

128 Years

Since 1898, Puerto Rico has remained under a colonial relationship with the United States without a completed process of self-determination that offers clearly defined status options consistent with international law.

2017

The PROMESA law created a Fiscal Oversight Board with sweeping powers that continue to undermine local democracy and accountability.

Stand Up for Human Rights in Puerto Rico

The ACLU of Puerto Rico is fighting to ensure that human rights are protected in every corner of society — from the courts to the streets. You can help by sharing our reports, supporting our advocacy against government overreach, and joining the movement for a Puerto Rico where justice, democracy, and dignity are not negotiable.

Key Issues

Human rights are not abstract — they’re about how power is used and who benefits. The ACLU of Puerto Rico works to hold institutions accountable and amplify the voices of those most impacted by injustice.

Government Accountability: Exposing corruption, surveillance, and misuse of public power.

Democratic Rights: Challenging unequal political representation and barriers to meaningful participation, while advocating for a genuine process of self-determination with clearly defined options consistent with international law.

Economic Justice: Defending workers and families impacted by austerity and privatization.

Environmental Rights: Protecting communities affected by pollution, displacement, and neglect.

ACLU of Puerto Rico

The Latest

Press Release
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Authorized statement: Authorized statement: death of a Vieques woman stranded at the Port of Ceiba while waiting for maritime transportation

Authorized statement by attorney Annette Martínez Orabona, executive director of the ACLU of Puerto Rico, regarding the death of a Vieques woman stranded at the Port of Ceiba while waiting for maritime transportation:
Issue Areas: Human Rights
Know Your Rights
ACLU of Puerto Rico

Local Protection, Safety for All

Sanctuary policies are local measures designed to protect all people in a community, regardless of immigration status. These policies ensure that municipal and state governments do not use local resources to enforce federal immigration laws, prioritizing safety, trust, and community well-being instead.
Press Release
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Judge Swain Lifts Stay on Lawsuits Against Government Officials in Their Personal Capacity Following Arguments by ACLU of Puerto Rico

Under the guise of the Puerto Rico debt restructuring process, current and former officials have avoided facing the law in civil rights violation lawsuits.
Issue Areas: Criminal Law Reform, Human Rights, Free Speech
Resource
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Legal

Since its founding, the ACLU of Puerto Rico has been at the forefront of landmark legal battles defending civil rights and liberties across the archipelago. Our legal team challenges systemic injustice through strategic litigation that protects free expression, due process, equality, and government accountability. From fighting police brutality and defending the rights of incarcerated people to advancing reproductive freedom and immigrants’ rights, we work to ensure that justice in Puerto Rico is accessible, equitable, and enduring.
Legislation
Jul 16, 2025

Senate Bill 350

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil and human rights, opposed Senate Bill 350 because of its direct impact on access to gender-affirming care for trans people, particularly trans youth and trans children, as well as on the rights of families and minors. The measure bans gender-affirming medical treatments for people under 21 years of age.
Status: Firmado por el/la gobernador/a
Legislation
Apr 13, 2025

Senate Bill 1

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil and human rights, opposed Senate Bill 1 because its implementation poses serious dangers and invites rights violations and discrimination. Measures intended to guarantee the exercise of the right to religious freedom are justifiable insofar as they ensure that the government does not interfere with the freedom to act according to one’s beliefs. However, they cease to be justifiable when their application and unlimited scope allow such exemptions to be used as a pretext for discriminatory practices and the possible denial of basic services and access to justice, in violation of civil rights and liberties.
Status: Firmado por el/la gobernador/a