International Service for Human Rights

In addition to its main publications on the UN system, ISHR occasionally publishes papers, articles and other materials dealing specifically with human rights defenders issues. They include the following:

• Claiming Rights, Claiming Justice. A Guidebook on women human rights defenders:
  The Guidebook is published by Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) and is result of a collective effort by several individuals, groups and institutions committed to the cause of affirming and upholding women’s human rights. Foreword by Hina Jilani, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders.

• Advocacy kit on the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders:
  This publication complements the advocacy messages suggested in our Advocacy kit on the review of the special procedures by focussing on the mandate on human rights defenders, and providing information and examples of best practices related to this mandate.

• Review of the system of special procedures by the Human Rights Council: what challenges for the mandate on human rights defenders?
  This briefing kit aims to provide information on the implications of the review of the special procedures system for the mandate on human rights defenders and to empower defenders who want to influence this issue at the national level.  

• Defending Human Rights Defenders:
  A short guide on the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders prepared for the Campaign on Women Human Rights Defenders (Colombo, 2005).

• Official publications of the International consultation on Women Human Rights Defenders (Colombo, 2005):
  Proceedings - Evaluation report - Resource book.

• Compilation of International and Regional Instruments for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders:
  ISHR and the Commonwealth Secretariat prepared a compilation of all international and regional norms, including soft law, relevant for the protection of human rights defenders.