2025 Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP) participants and ISHR staff in front of the UN building in Geneva ©Ben Buckland for ISHR
Here at ISHR we are constantly being inspired by the brave people taking action to defend human rights and want to share some of their stories with you.
Camara Salimata SY is the vice-president of Association des Femmes Chefs de Famille (AFCF - Association of female family heads) in Mauritania. She champions women's rights through advocacy, education, and legal reforms, focusing on national and international frameworks like CEDAW.
Francisco Javier, a human rights defender from Honduras, advocates for environmental and land rights, focusing on the protection of Indigenous territories and resources.
Natasha Latif is a human rights lawyer from Singapore, advocating for women's rights in Afghanistan through her organisation, SAHR.
Victor Nanklan Touré is the president of ONG Club Union Africaine Côte d'Ivoire which is mainly working on statelessness and land issues.
Aych McArdle, a New Zealand human rights defender, focuses on enhancing LGBTI inclusivity in schools and advocating for broader protections under the nation's Human Rights Act.
Iftikhar Mubarik from Pakistan, associated with the Children Advocacy Network, champions children's rights, focusing on policy advocacy and the implementation of the CRC to address issues like child exploitation, marriage disparity, and the need for an empowered children's rights commission.
Yara Sallam, a dedicated human rights defender from Egypt, shares her journey of advocating for civil and political rights amidst challenges, emphasising the crucial role of international mechanisms in holding Egypt accountable.
Ivette Gonzalez, a defender from Mexico, advocates for business accountability and human rights, facing risks in a context where defenders and journalists were increasingly threatened.
Jacobus Witbooi from Namibia champions LGBTIQ rights and sexual health education, impacting national policies and fostering support for sexual orientation and gender identity rights in Africa.
Bose Agbonmerele Iro-Nsi, a dedicated women's rights advocate in Nigeria, fights against domestic violence and harmful cultural practices through education and legal awareness, facing cultural resistance and threats in her mission.
Tuisina Ymania Brown, a leading voice for Samoa's indigenous LGBTIQ community, advocates for legal recognition and rights, facing challenges posed by cultural and religious norms.
Prominent human rights defenders from China, Ethiopia and Syria have been honoured for their courageous work in the face of great personal risk, with the announcement of the Final Nominees for the Martin Ennals Award 2016.
