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Donate | Support a human rights defender today
It is thanks to our generous donors - thanks to people like you and me - that the International Service for Human Rights can help human rights defenders like Maria in the struggle to make their dreams a reality.
‘Hi, my name is Maria Torres. I come from Peru and I work as a lawyer for the International Institute on Law and Society. I became a lawyer because I wanted to fight against injustice. As a student, I travelled to the Amazon and I saw how indigenous people were suffering violations of their most basic human rights; and there was a lot of indifference from civil society. At that moment, I decided that I wanted to dedicate my life to this cause. It was really important that one of us in my organisation learns about UN mechanisms and that’s why I came to Geneva to attend ISHR’s training. I am leaving Geneva with a lot of knowledge about the UN mechanisms. This knowledge will allow me to help indigenous peoples in Peru’.
A few days ago, we wished farewell to the 17 brave human rights defenders who attended our flagship Human Rights Defenders Advocacy Programme. Whether they are involved in fighting for the rights of indigenous peoples in Peru, fostering social protection for workers in Cambodia, defending detainees in Egypt, helping women stand for their rights in Romania, or mobilising support for the LGBTI community in Uganda – all of them have one thing in common: they came to Geneva because they needed our support, they needed our training.
It is thanks to our generous donors – thanks to people like you and me – that the International Service for Human Rights can provide this training and help human rights defenders like Maria in the struggle to make their dreams a reality.
Here is what a recent independent expert evaluation of ISHR reports: ‘ISHR is an effective and influential organisation that has contributed in important and concrete ways to achieving positive outcomes for the protection of human rights generally, and the benefit and protection of human rights defenders more specifically. Human rights defenders themselves stressed that ISHR’s training, as well as its ongoing strategic partnership, makes their work more effective.’
Big or small, your donation will help. Here’s how…
$50
enables ISHR to provide a human rights defender with comprehensive resources, giving them the foundational knowledge they need to use international and regional mechanisms to expose and combat injustice
$500
enables ISHR to provide a defender with strategic advocacy assistance to deliver their testimony to the UN Human Rights Council, allowing their voice to be heard on the international stage
$5000
enables ISHR to provide a defender with two weeks’ intensive training and direct advocacy support, together with access to key diplomats and UN experts, empowering them to use international advocacy to contribute to change on the ground
Monthly donations allow us to better plan our activities and provide continuous support to defenders.
Human rights defenders are the lifeblood of the human rights movement. They are our best hope for a fairer, safer world. Let’s help them today to achieve transformative change!
UN Special Procedures have called on Cameroon to tackle environmental and human rights abuses linked to mercury use in gold mining. Despite a national ban, mercury continues to contaminate waterways, devastating local ecosystems and biodiversity, and impacting health.
Sudanese authorities are systemically denying access to identification documents, especially passports, to human rights defenders, political opponents, and peace advocates calling for an end to the war, a sustainable peace, and a democratic transition.
At France’s review by the UN Committee against Torture, the case of Adama Traoré illustrated grave concerns about police violence and impunity. The French government must now take concrete steps to implement the Committee's recommendations.