Joshua Colangelo-Bryan

As Special Counsel, Josh spearheads innovative impact litigation, legal initiatives, and advocacy efforts to advance international human rights, uphold democratic principles, and support defenders of human rights globally.

Josh came to Human Rights First from an international law firm where, for over 20 years, he maintained a pro bono practice focused on human rights, civil rights, and national security matters, while also engaging in criminal defense work and complex civil litigation. For example, beginning in 2004, he represented six now-released Guantanamo Bay detainees.  He was counsel to peaceful protestors who were attacked in 2017 by Turkish security agents in Washington, D.C. He also defended parties named in Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), including clients advocating for Palestinian rights and religious pluralism in India. Further, he conducted human-rights investigations in countries such as Yemen, Lebanon, and Bahrain.

Previously, Josh had served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, working on the prosecution of war crimes and serving as a liaison to Yugoslav and Serbian officials. In the late 1990s, he did post-conflict humanitarian aid work in the Balkans.

Josh has provided commentary regarding national security, human rights, and criminal law matters to media outlets, including CNN, ABC World News Tonight, BBC World News, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and New York Magazine. He has authored op-eds on these issues for publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, and Politico. He has also presented on these topics, including at the U.S. Congress, the U.K. House of Lords, and the United Nations.