Board
ISHR is governed by a Board of Directors which is responsible for the overall strategy and governance of the organisation.
The International Service for Human Rights is an independent, non-profit organisation promoting and protecting human rights. Founded in 1984, ISHR has offices in Geneva (Switzerland) and New York (United States), as well as a permanent presence in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).
Our mission is to support human rights defenders, strengthen human rights systems, as well as lead and participate in coalitions for human rights change. We believe that no matter who we are or where we come from, no matter the differences between cultures, as human beings, we all share the same humanity. We all wish to live in peace, be respected, be surrounded by our loved ones in a safe and fair environment, and with opportunities to lead our lives in dignity.
We carry out our mission by:
Our reach is global thanks to our network of human rights defenders, the diverse human rights fields we contribute to and our privileged connections with the United Nations and other important stakeholders.
Read more about ISHR’s mission, activities, impact and vision in our Annual Reports and our Strategic Framework for 2021-2025.
Note: The International Service for Human Rights (acronym: ISHR / website: ishr.ch) is not affiliated with other organisations using the same acronym, whether they are active in the field of human rights or in other unrelated fields.
ISHR is governed by a Board of Directors which is responsible for the overall strategy and governance of the organisation.
Meet our staff members, the driving force behind ISHR's impact.
Meet the talented, passionate people who are gaining experience at ISHR - and who bring a whole fresh look into our activities!
We are celebrating longstanding and collective efforts in supporting human rights defenders. Join us and find out more!
In an almost entirely uncompetitive election, States at the UN General Assembly did not support Saudi Arabia’s candidacy to the Human Rights Council, halting the Kingdom’s push to play a larger role in human rights mechanisms in spite of its abysmal record.
Nearly two years after its publication, rights groups urged the UN Rights chief to follow up on his office's Xinjiang Report.
This year marks ten years of ISHR's flagship training, the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP), which engages defenders in intensive hybrid training on UN advocacy. We are pleased to welcome a new group to Geneva for the tenth edition of the programme!
As the United Nations face a historic liquidity crisis due to unpaid dues, civil society urges Member States to fulfill their financial obligations, safeguarding critical human rights operations.
Effectively realising human rights for everyone, everywhere is the pathway to free, fair and just communities and a more peaceful and sustainable world. This must remain our north star as we face the multiple and worsening crises and conflicts around the world.
This document, produced as an output of the Youth Champions Programme, organised by the International Gender Champions Secretariat, is intended to provide guidance on principles of feminist leadership, with a particular focus on how men can and should champion gender equality.
Despite the challenging times, we continue to work towards effectively realising human rights for everyone, everywhere. Read our annual report!
Human rights and multilateralism are making a remarkable comeback. Discover why and how in our Annual Report!
2021 has been challenging from a human rights perspective, but it’s also been a year over which sparks have been lit on key issues which we must now nurture and ensure fires of progress that long burn bright.
It's difficult to encapsulate such a complex year in a word, but "interconnected" is one that comes to mind when reflecting on 2020. We are proud to have remained deeply interconnected with defenders and to have supported, protected and amplified their work at the national, regional and international levels. With them, the "essential workers" of our times, we strive for a 2021 full of freedom, equality, dignity and justice.
Here are some of the things we are most proud of; impacts that reflect and were made possible thanks to the creativity, solidarity and resilience of our partners, our staff and the human rights defenders we collectively serve.