The mission of RAIDH is to organize or support all actions, initiatives, approaches, ideas and discourses aimed at the defense and promotion of human rights (in particular civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, international humanitarian law, refugee law, the right to a healthy environment and sustainable development, and any other human right), in France and in the world.

The association is also involved in actions that make it possible to make public situations of violations of these same rights; which contribute to significant progress in the implementation of these rights. RAIDH bases its action on international, regional or national human rights law, contained in international, regional or nationally adopted or recognized texts and in customary international law.

These rights are contained in the following texts: 

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) 
• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (New York Convention, 1984) 
• Geneva Conventions of 1949 (international humanitarian law) 
•  European Convention on Human Rights (Council of Europe)
• Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
•  American Convention on Human Rights (Organization of American States)
• African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Organization of African Unity)

as well as any internationally recognized, regional or nationally recognized text or rule for the protection or promotion of human rights, understood here civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, international humanitarian law, refugee law, the right to a healthy environment and sustainable development; and any other rights attached to the human person