ISHR staff

Nada Awad holds a master’s degree in International Relations and International Security from Sciences Pro Paris. She previously worked on human rights violations in the Arab region as the international advocacy officer at the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS). She was previously responsible for the Advocacy unit at Al-Quds University’s Community Action Center, where she focused on the issue of the forcible transfer of Palestinians from Jerusalem. She also worked as an archival researcher at the Institute for Palestine Studies in Beirut. She is a policy member with Al-Shabaka.

Marianne joined ISHR in 2019 and tries to expand the reach and influence of ISHR advocacy work with participatory campaigns and by building and mobilising communities of support. Previously, Marianne worked at Peace Brigades International and Amnesty International in the Americas and with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. She holds a Master degree in International Affairs from Sciences Po and an LLM in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law from the University of Essex. 

Salomé joined ISHR in 2022 to lead our work on trainings and capacity development initiatives online and offline, such as the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme and the ISHR Academy. Salomé has over 9 years’ experience working in the humanitarian sector in the field of access to education and advocacy as a project manager, mostly in Latin America and France. In her recent position at the IFRC, she was responsible for implementing first aid learning strategies for a wide range of audience in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. She achieved a Master’s degree in Law and International Relations from the Pantheon Assas/Sorbonne University in Paris and can speak English, French and Spanish.

Assé Chétima joined ISHR’s communications team in 2024. She holds a Master’s Degree in Marketing and Business Intelligence, a Bachelor’s Degree in English, and is also a Certified Project Manager. With over 8 years of experience in communications for various international organisations and associations in Senegal, Fiji, and Switzerland, she has been involved in initiatives related to access to healthcare, quality education, and sustainable housing.

Marina joined ISHR in 2013 and has overall responsibility for the strategic, effective, efficient and sustainable development and management of ISHR’s finance, fundraising, human resources, office management, and IT teams and work. Prior to joining ISHR, she held a variety of senior financial management positions within diverse corporations and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Marina holds a Master in Economic and Commercial Law from the University of Lausanne, a double degree in Philosophy/Accountancy from George Mason University.

Christine joined ISHR in 2017 after several years as a communication professional in the private sector. Christine works to make ISHR advocacy, achievements and calls to action more visible and effective. She leads and coordinates online and offline communications activities and helps the team craft and deliver their messages through the channels our audiences use, with the help of effective narratives and strategic communications. Christine holds Master degrees in management studies from EM Lyon and WHU Koblenz.

Salma joined ISHR in 2018 and leads our strategic engagement and advocacy at the Human Rights Council. She holds a Masters degree in International Human Rights Law and a Bachelors degree in Political Science from the American University in Cairo. Prior to joining ISHR, Salma worked for international and national human rights organisations in the Middle East and North Africa region. Her work focused on the protection of human rights defenders, civil and political rights and women’s rights.

Before joining ISHR team in 2023, Samira worked as HR Manager for educational institutions in Geneva. She has a master’s degree in communication from University of Geneva as well as Swiss federal HR administrator certificate from HRSE.

Diya joined the ISHR fundraising and grants management team in 2024. She holds a Masters Degree in International Law with a specialization in Human Rights from SOAS, University of London and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from University of Surrey. She has previously worked in both the non-profit sector and private sector in program management and coordination, donor relations, and governance.

Adélaïde joined ISHR in 2017 and focuses on supporting and protecting defenders from Africa at the national level, as well as at the African Commission and UN. Previously, she advocated for the rights of women in Poland and Macedonia as well as the advancement of freedom of expression in Central Africa. More recently, she worked with indigenous people and minorities in Mauritania for better protection of their rights, especially victims of slavery. Adélaïde has a Master in International Law and Relations from the University of Clermont-Ferrand.

Elise joint ISHR as Campaign and Mobilisation Manager. Previously, she spent three years in Haiti, first supporting a local organisation with communications and advocacy, then at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Prior to Haiti, Elise worked for the International Network of Human Rights in Geneva. She holds a BSc in Journalism and Human Rights from Roehampton University and a MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies from the LSE.

Eva joined ISHR’s fundraising and grants management team in 2018. She holds a Master degree in Civil Sector Studies from Charles University in Prague. She has over 15 years of experience in the NGO sector, working both in fundraising and project management positions. Prior to ISHR she worked for several years for People in Need, where she was in charge of a programme supporting Burmese human rights defenders.

Chung Lun joined ISHR in 2023 to contribute to its China Advocacy Programme. Before joining ISHR, he worked at the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), focusing on election and human rights advocacy in countries with restrictive civic space in Asia. Chung Lun is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Southeast Asian studies at the University of Malaya.

Fabiana’s work focuses on strengthening human rights bodies and enhancing civil society participation at the Human Rights Council and related mechanisms. Within the HRC team, she leads ISHR’s institutional advocacy and serves as ISHR’s focal point on Special Procedures. Her responsibilities also encompass programmatic advocacy, particularly in advancing women’s rights, addressing gender disparities, and combatting anti-rights movements and narratives. Fabiana is a lawyer with a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She has extensive experience working with civil society organisations such as Amnesty International, CIVICUS, and Conectas Direitos Humanos. Before joining ISHR in this role, she coordinated the Human Rights Council Network (HRCNet).

Tina supports the ISHR communications team as a Digital Communications Consultant. Tina has been working as an independent Multimedia Graphic Designer for several years, delivering global online and offline communication projects. Her main focus at ISHR is managing the website re-development project, as well as working on ISHR branding and online/offline publications and visuals. Tina obtained a Master of Arts in Design from Zurich University.

Phil is the Executive Director of ISHR and has overall responsibility for the organisation’s strategy, policy, programmes and operations. Before joining ISHR in 2013, Phil founded and led the award-winning Human Rights Law Centre and Homeless Law in Australia. He is a member of the Global Board of the International Gender Champions and the Swiss Committee of World Bicycle Relief, and a former member of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency Advisory Board and the Australian Government Human Rights Grants Scheme Expert Panel. He has been conferred with numerous human rights and leadership awards. Phil holds an LLB (Hons) and an MPPM from the University of Melbourne. 

Tess McEvoy leads ISHR’s work on women and LGBTI human rights defenders, ISHR’s legal protection work and Treaty Bodies, and co-leads ISHR’s legal team which engages in strategic litigation for the protection of human rights defenders. Before joining ISHR in 2015, Tess worked with leading international law firm DLA Piper, with community legal centres working on women and refugee rights and engaged in community organising. Tess holds a Juris Doctor from Murdoch University and a Psychology Degree from the University of Western Australia.

Nayara Khaly joined ISHR in 2023 to support a civil society coalition focused on enhancing accountability at the UN for systematic racism and police violence against Africans and people of African descent. She is currently enrolled in a Master’s Degree in International Relations at the Federal University of ABC (UFABC, Brazil). She is engaged in migrant rights research and social justice activism through the intersectionalities of gender and race in Brazil.

Trésor joined ISHR in 2023 and supports the organisation’s efforts to promote and protect the rights of human rights defenders in Africa. He was the Founding Publications Coordinator at the Centre for Human Rights (University of Pretoria), supporting the publication of major studies on constitutional law and international human rights law and working in collaboration with the African Commission and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Trésor holds a PhD in Constitutional & Human Rights Law in Africa from the University of Pretoria.

Eleanor leads ISHR’s work at the Inter-American Commission and in the Latin American / Caribbean region. Before joining ISHR, Eleanor worked at Amnesty International and Peace Brigades International. Eleanor holds degrees from the University of Oxford and London Metropolitan University. 

Maithili joined ISHR as a Harvard-PSVF fellow in 2020. She currently leads ISHR’s work to promote NGO participation at the UN human rights bodies and mechanisms, supports strategic litigation for the protection of human rights defenders and advocacy for environmental defenders. She has worked at the Supreme Court of India, assisted the UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and NGOs in India, UK and Egypt on women’s and LGBTIQ rights, refugee and migrant rights and digital rights. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Laws from the National University of Juridical Sciences and Harvard Law School respectively.

Joining ISHR in 2014, Pooja is leading and contributing to our work in areas including women’s rights, LGBTI rights and PMEL. Pooja has overall responsibility for the effective, efficient and sustainable development and management of ISHR’s capacity building, policy, advocacy, communications and campaigns teams and work. Before joining ISHR, Pooja worked with the Asian Forum for Human Rights & Development (FORUM-ASIA) in Bangkok and Geneva, and as a policy analyst with Universal Rights Group. Pooja holds a Degree in Political Science and International Development from the University of Toronto. 

Francisco is a journalist and communications professional specialising in economic and environmental affairs. Before joining ISHR in 2021, he worked for media outlets as a reporter and social media editor in Switzerland, France, Germany, and China. He later worked for NGOs and international organisations in Geneva and now supports ISHR’s communication team on media outreach and messaging. Francisco holds a Master’s degree in journalism from City University London and the University of Aarhus. Francisco joined ISHR in 2021 as a Communications and Media Manager.

Antsa joined ISHR in 2016. His role is to assist the finance manager on all the tasks related to accounting. Antsa holds a degree in Accounting in France. Previously he’s worked in various associations as an accountant and it was during those experiences he discovered the world of the NGOs which sparked his interest and passion for working in the not for profit sector.

Marco joined ISHR in 2022. His principal role is to help the office and programme manager to ensure the smooth-running of the organisation’s administration. Previous to ISHR, he developed experiences in the communication and customer service sector through a French telecommunications company in Portugal.

Madeleine is Co-Director of ISHR’s New York office, leads our work to combat reprisals against human rights defenders and coordinates ISHR’s legal work and strategic litigation. Under Madeleine’s leadership, ISHR has contributed significantly to advancing the UN’s response to intimidation and reprisals. Previously, Madeleine worked at UNICEF, for the UN Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial executions, and as a lawyer. Madeleine holds a Master of Laws from NYU, a Juris Doctor from Dalhousie Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from Queen’s University. 

Javier joined ISHR in 2021 as a Fellow of DLA Piper’s Global Scholarships Programme, assisting our work with the UN Treaty Bodies. Since 2022, he has contributed to our legal and strategic litigation work, while also being our focal point in Latin America. 

Based in Guatemala, he is a lawyer, notary and has a Bachelor in legal and social sciences. In 2023, he co-litigated the case that stopped the attempted coup d’Etat in the country.  He previously served as a human rights researcher (with a focus in the Inter-American System of Human Rights), an analyst for the Judicial Observatory of the Criminal Justice System, and a paralegal at the International Justice Mission.

Nicolas supports ISHR Fundraising team. He holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from the National Chengchi University, Taiwan, and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Ulises joined ISHR in 2023, and leads the work on business, environment, and land. He has a Master’s degree in International Law from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. Before joining ISHR, he was the Americas Program Coordinator at Franciscans International. He has previously worked with the International, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) and collaborated with the Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights.

Raphaël joined ISHR in September 2018, and now leads ISHR’s work to support Chinese, Uyghur, Tibetan and Hong Kong human rights defenders at the United Nations. He is also part of ISHR’s Latin America team. He holds a Dual Master’s Degree in Human Rights and International Relations from Sciences Po Paris and Peking University, with prior experience in providing legal assistance to asylum-seekers in France. Raphael provides comments to international and national media in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.

Diego joined ISHR in 2017 after 12 years of experience in event organization, hospitality management, and customer service industries. His previous position was as an office manager for a Geneva-based software company. At ISHR Diego is in charge of the office administration, as well as supporting the different program clusters to help them achieve their mission. Equality as well as migrant and indigenous rights are at the forefront of his core motivations to fight for human rights. Diego studied foreign languages and literature at UNAM in Mexico City, and Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco C.A. GPG Key

Clément leads our work to support defenders in States in transition, in Africa, and at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Before joining ISHR in 2006, Clement was Secretary-General of Amnesty International Togo and head of the Togolese Coalition of HRDs. Clément also holds an independent appointment as UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association. 

Jelena joined ISHR in 2023 and is responsible for financial statements preparation, management of donor budgets, and carrying out project-based and year-end audits. Jelena has 8 years of experience in finance and accounting in Geneva-based NGOs.