The Clooney Foundation for Justice is a left-of-center organization that seeks to document instances of mass human rights violations, assist the victims of such violations, and hold individual and state governments accountable. ¹

Background

The Clooney Foundation for Justice was founded in 2016 by actor George Clooney and his spouse, human rights attorney Amal Clooney. ²

Finances

In 2022, the Clooney Foundation for Justice received $9,970,577 in contributions, ³ incurred $8,585,276 in expenditures, ⁴ and held $ 8,412,212 in net assets. ⁵

Trial Watch

The Clooney Foundation for Justice monitors criminal trials targeting journalists around the world, including trials against journalists reporting on human rights violations in over 40 countries, ⁶ including Bangladesh, Congo, Iran, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Venezuela. ⁷ In one instance, political activist Stella Nyanzi, who was convicted for criticizing Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni on social media, was released from prison after the Foundation published a negative report on her trial. ⁸ The appeals court that overturned the conviction did not address the report and supported its decision be highlighting that Nyanzi was not afforded adequate time to prepare her defense. ⁹

On occasion, where the Clooney Foundation for Justice determines that a journalist has been indicted on baseless grounds, such as for political activity, the Foundation provides free legal services to defend such individuals. ¹⁰

Justice for Women

The Clooney Foundation for Justice advocates for the suspension of laws that entrench discrimination based on gender and supports heightened accountability for gender-based abuse. ¹¹ The Clooney Foundation for Justice opposes a variety of forms of discrimination against women, including child marriage laws, laws that prevent married or pregnant women from receiving an education, compulsory modesty laws such as wearing a veil, and laws that sanction violence against women. ¹²

The Clooney Foundation for Justice has worked with the left-of-center Obama Foundation and Gates Foundation to advance its objectives. ¹³

Abortion

The Clooney Foundation for Justice advocates for the suspension of laws that criminalize or otherwise limit access to abortion, including laws in Brazil, El Salvador, Morocco, Tanzania, and Venezuela. ¹⁴

Leadership

David Sagal and Emma Lindsay are the co-executive directors of the Clooney Foundation for Justice. ¹⁵ David Sagal is a former general counsel for Warner Brothers Pictures, and the chairman of the pro bono committee for the left-of-center Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. ¹⁶

1. “Our Story.” Clooney Foundation for Justice. https://cfj.org/our-story/
2. “Clooney Foundation for Justice.” UNICEF-USA. https://www.unicefusa.org/about-unicef-usa/partnerships/foundations/clooney-foundation-justice#:~:text=The%20Clooney%20Foundation%20for%20Justice%20was%20established%20in%20late%202016,Tanya%20Chapuisat%2C%20of%20UNICEF%20Lebanon.
3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Clooney Foundation for Justice. Part I, Line 8. 2022.
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Clooney Foundation for Justice. Part I, Line 18. 2022.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Clooney Foundation for Justice. Part I, Line 22. 2022.
6.  “Trial Watch.” Clooney Foundation for Justice. https://cfj.org/trialwatch/
7. “Trial Watch.” Clooney Foundation for Justice. https://cfj.org/trialwatch/
8. “Clooney Foundation For Justice Statement On The Release Of Stella Nyanzi In Uganda.” Clooney Foundation for Justice. February 20, 2020. Accessed March 5, 2025. https://cfj.org/news/clooney-foundation-for-justice-statement-on-the-release-of-stella-nyanzi-in-uganda/
9. “Clooney Foundation For Justice Statement On The Release Of Stella Nyanzi In Uganda.” Clooney Foundation for Justice. February 20, 2020. Accessed March 5, 2025. https://cfj.org/news/clooney-foundation-for-justice-statement-on-the-release-of-stella-nyanzi-in-uganda/
10. “Trial Watch.” Clooney Foundation for Justice. https://cfj.org/trialwatch/
11. “Waging Justice for Women.” Clooney Foundation for Justice. https://cfj.org/waging-justice-for-women/
12. “Waging Justice for Women.” Clooney Foundation for Justice. https://cfj.org/waging-justice-for-women/
13. “Amal Clooney, Melinda French Gates, and Michelle Obama Share 3 Ways to Help End Child Marriage.” Time Magazine. March 8, 2023. Accessed March 5, 2024. https://time.com/6260844/ending-child-marriage-amal-clooney-melinda-french-gates-michelle-obama/
14. “Reproductive Rights.” Clooney Foundation for Justice. https://cfj.org/topics/women/reproductive-rights/
15. “Our Team.” Clooney Foundation for Justice. https://cfj.org/our-team/
16. “David Sagal.” Clooney Foundation for Justice. https://cfj.org/person/david-sagal/