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.
Otgonbaatar Tsedendemberel, co-founder of the LGBT Center of Mongolia, has been a pivotal figure in advancing LGBTI rights through education, advocacy, and strategic use of UN mechanisms to influence government policy.
Donald Hernandez Palma spoke at the UN and underscored the severe risks faced by Honduran environmental defenders due to unchecked corporate power and a climate of impunity and corruption.
Surendra Pratap, from the Centre for Workers and Education in New Delhi, collaborates with grassroots organisations across India, advocating for the rights of agricultural, forest, and informal workers, with a focus on addressing large-scale labour rights violations.
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.
