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.
Meet Maria
‘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.
Are you one of these people? Can you support a human rights defender today?
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!
Big thanks to everyone who has donated so far.
On Tuesday 16 April 2024, ISHR delivered to both Geneva’s Administrative Council and its legislative counterpart, the Municipal Council, physical copies of the more than 1000 signatures collected in support of a memorial honouring Chinese human rights defender Cao Shunli.
The 79th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights will be held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 14 May to 3 June 2024. The session will be preceded by the NGO Forum, which will be held in hybrid format from the 11-13 May 2024.
13 April 2024 marked one year since the Chinese authorities arbitrarily detained prominent human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife, woman defender Xu Yan. As their health steadily deteriorates, 30 rights groups and the European Union have renewed their call for their prompt release.
