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For four decades, ISHR has stood with human rights defenders worldwide so they can safely raise their voices for a fairer world. But this work is increasingly imperilled, and we need you now more than ever.

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Are you inspired by those who speak truth to power, seeking justice and accountability? Those who defend the rights of their communities and care about future generations?

Are you outraged when their voices get shut down? When they are arbitrarily imprisoned, or their lives are put at risk simply because they stood up on all our behalf?

So are we! We want dignity, equality and justice and we promote those values by partnering with and supporting the very individuals and communities who actively strive for them every day.

We work with human rights defenders like Abdoulaye, Marthe, Loujain, Lina and Yahia, who dedicate their lives to promote justice and accountability in their countries. Together, we’ve helped countless others raise their voices and create a world that is more fair and just for all.

Now the human rights situation in many countries and contexts is worsening, and human rights defenders face increasingly complex environments. In response to the environmental crisis, conflicts and the consolidation of authoritarian ideologies and narratives around the globe, we need community-oriented solutions. We need human rights defenders to bring those solutions to the table. For ISHR, to keep supporting defenders, it means we must double our efforts to deepen our impact and raise $100,000.

You can help us build on our successes and achieve more.

Click to read: how we enhance activists' safe access to the UN

'When my sister Loujain was arrested, the first organisation to reach out in order for me to issue a statement at the UN was ISHR.' Lina Alhathloul, Saudi activist

Watch Lina’s story and donate so ISHR can #EndReprisals and campaign for the release of defenders detained for engaging with the UN like her sister Loujain.

Click to read: how we enhance activists' safe access to the UN

'When my sister Loujain was arrested, the first organisation to reach out in order for me to issue a statement at the UN was ISHR.' Lina Alhathloul, Saudi activist

Watch her story

ISHR exposes cases of reprisals against human rights defenders who have engaged with the United Nations to share evidence of abuse with experts and States. ISHR pushes for States and the United Nations experts to support the victims and to provide accountability and redress.

This is what we did for Loujain: we backed her sister’s advocacy for her release. And we were successful!

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Click to read: how we achieve justice

'We are fighting for more Afro-descendant voices to enter the corridors of the United Nations.' Maria José Menezes, Afro-Brazilian activist

Read Maria José’s testimony and donate so ISHR can accompany activists in their engagement with UN accountability mechanisms.

Click to read: how we achieve justice

'We are fighting for more Afro-descendant voices to enter the corridors of the United Nations.' Maria José Menezes, Afro-Brazilian activist

Read her story

ISHR works to ensure that defenders are able to share their testimonies and evidence of human rights violations with the UN and eventually obtain truth, justice and reparation.

As a founder member of the UN Antiracism Coalition, ISHR has for instance supported Afro-descendant activists, like Maria José, to engage with UN experts that investigate the killing of Black peoples at the hands of law enforcement and the root causes of such oppression.

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Click to read: how we protect defenders

'Defenders are the voice of the voiceless, the eyes of those that are in the darkness.' Abdoulaye Kanni, Niger

Listen to Abdoulaye’s and Marthe’s testimonies and donate so ISHR can support more defenders to push States to protect their right to defend rights.

Click to read: how we protect defenders

'Defenders are the voice of the voiceless, the eyes of those that are in the darkness.' Abdoulaye Kanni, Niger

Listen to their stories

ISHR has worked for many years to translate the international obligation for States to protect the right to defend rights into concrete action on the ground, including by pushing for the adoption of national laws or policies to recognise and protect defenders.

For example, ISHR worked with human rights defenders like Abdoulaye in Niger and Marthe in Côte d’Ivoire to have a law to protect them adopted. With these laws, defenders at risk can turn to national authorities and demand protection. This is important because the whole society benefits from a vibrant civil society!

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How will you use my money?

100% of your contribution will be used to support human rights defenders, build their capacity and expertise by providing comprehensive training and advocacy accompaniment, strengthen their recognition and protection under international law, and help protect them from threats, risks and reprisals.

This is how much some of ISHR main activities cost

A gift of USD 20,000+ could help us fund or co-fund a dedicated staff position to better respond to urgent threats faced by human rights defenders.
A gift of USD 10,000 could sponsor an advocacy campaign targeting pressing issues, like ending reprisals against human rights defenders or promoting accountability for gender apartheid in Afghanistan.
A gift of USD 5,000 could provide a scholarship for our Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP), training leaders of change worldwide for even more impact locally.
A gift of USD 2,000 could fund an advocacy trip, enabling a human rights defender to come to Geneva to testify at the UN Human Rights Council 58th session and secure international support for their essential work.
A gift of USD 500 could support us to produce a video profiling a human rights defender, providing them with protective publicity and raising awareness of the value of their work.
A gift of USD 100, could provide a defender with a personalised coaching session with one of our experts, supporting them to develop an international advocacy strategy and tactics.