Defenders' stories

'Indigenous communities must have better political representations to ensure our rights are protected both constitutionally and in practice.'

‘We try to address issues of climate change and inequality only through answering symptoms of the disease. It's time that we address the root cause which is the global financial architecture.’

‘We strongly believe that we must push the gender perspective, that we must work with the present and future generations, and that also puts their lives at risk, because they are looking for their birthright. And [these risks] should not be normalised in our world, as we look to reach what is known as climate justice.'

‘Environmental conservation requires the involvement of local communities living close to natural resources. These communities are key to effective protection and should be included in all decision-making processes to ensure their livelihood.’

'With everything happening around the world, the international community may be stretched thin, but it’s very important to look at places that may not have as much public visibility.'

‘All we are asking for are the most basic rights. We hope to see Bahrain healing from over a decade of ordeal, of repression, of imprisonment, of torture, into a State where individuals can challenge their State without fear.’

Farukhleqa is a woman human rights defender from Afghanistan. She has been working for the promotion and protection of women's right for almost 20 years and is currently actively opposing gender apartheid in Afghanistan.

Tamana is a human rights and women’s rights activist who leads in Germany the campaign to 'End Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan. In an interview with ISHR, she tells us a little more about her work and vision for Afghan women.

Elham Kohistani is a human rights defender from Afghanistan. Having witnessed successive governments trample human rights in her country since her childhood, she has dedicated her life to fighting for the basic rights of women and girls.

'Since the Taliban came to power, Afghanistan [has become] the only country where we see that women don’t have any kind of rights.'

'From the time we grow up, our grandparents teach us to love nature and the environment, to respect rivers, lakes and mountains, because, as children, they explain to us that all of it is sacred.'

'They can take our homes, our titles or our surnames, but the hope and joy that sustain us, and with which we continue to work, still remain.'