ISHR provides both analytical and practical information to human rights defenders to strengthen their access to and engagement with human rights bodies and mechanisms at the international, regional and national levels.
The UN human rights pillar faces a critical funding crisis, with chronic underfunding and delayed contributions from major member states severely undermining its ability to fulfill its mandates; this page offers essential insights into UN budget mechanics, details on human rights funding challenges, and a collection of ISHR's reports, submissions, and articles advocating for sustainable financial support.
ISHR has followed the UN80 Initiative and has advocated for this reform process to align with human rights defenders' needs. This page compiles a series of documents to understand what the UN80 Initiative is and what it means for the UN human rights mechanisms, and to help human rights defenders working at national and regional levels to engage with it.
ISHR has published ‘scorecards’ for States seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council for 2027-2029 to help inform voting States’ decisions in the upcoming election.
In response to the annual call for inputs from the UN Secretary-General, ISHR has submitted 66 cases of intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders engaging with the UN from 24 countries.
Now is the time to come together for human rights - to organise, resist and invest. Now is the time to come together for a more inclusive and effective multilateralism - firmly rooted in values. And now is the time to come together for defenders - protecting, supporting and nourishing our seeds of hope.
ISHR has published ‘scorecards’ for States seeking election to the UN Committee on NGOs 2027-2030 to help inform voting States’ decisions in the upcoming election.
This is a compilation of publicly available information on how the liquidity crisis and budget cuts related to the UN80 Initiative are affecting the work of UN human rights mechanisms since 2024, including their ability to fulfil their mandates and deliver tangible improvements for individuals and communities.
ISHR is pleased to launch its updated guide to the UN Special Procedures, an essential tool for human rights defenders seeking to engage more strategically with these experts, for greater impact on the ground.
ISHR is pleased to launch a Special Procedures Explainer in five languages, an essential tool for human rights defenders seeking to engage more strategically with Special Procedures, for greater impact on the ground.
After extensive internal and external consultations, ISHR has just released its Strategy 2030, our new Strategic Framework.
