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.
Born and educated in Geneva, ISHR founder Adrien Zoller’s lifelong commitment to non-governmental and human rights work began as a hobby. Adrien spoke to ISHR about what drove him towards his human rights vocation, and about ISHR’s founding and profound impact to the global human rights movement.
Three courageous activists have been recognised for their work to promote and protect human rights at great personal risk with the conferral of the prestigious Martin Ennals Award and Prizes at a ceremony in Geneva today.
Khartini Slamah, a dedicated Malaysian transgender rights defender, works tirelessly on HIV/AIDS and LGBTI rights, facing challenges in a country where legislation and societal norms significantly hinder the LGBTI community's freedoms.
Henri Tiphagne, of People’s Watch, details the resilience in promoting human rights in India, despite governmental hindrances like the FCRA suspension, emphasising the essential role of international engagement and local solidarity in defending human rights.
Michel Forst, in reflecting on his initial objectives as the then-newly elected UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, emphasises a preventative approach to safeguard defenders, advocating for supportive laws and policies against growing global challenges.
Led by Veronica Yates, the Child Rights International Network strives for UN consultative status to advocate for children's rights globally, facing challenges from political opposition, especially China's objections to Tibet-related content.
The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, led by Gissou Nia, seeks UN consultative status to bring Iranian human rights violations to international attention, despite being hindered by bureaucratic challenges and the inability to conduct fieldwork in Iran.
Fundación Pachamama, led by Belen Paez, champions Ecuador's forest conservation and indigenous rights, overcoming challenges like the 2013 government shutdown to advocate for environmental justice and global solidarity.
Yuyun Wahyuningrum is an Indonesian human rights defender who works closely with the ASEAN regional system and in particular the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). She shares her thoughts on the challenges human rights defenders face in the ASEAN system.
Thilaga Sulathireh initially joined the struggle for LGBTI rights in Malaysia in response to her own experience of discrimination and harassment on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. She now devotes herself to promoting and protecting the rights of others.
Three prominent human rights defenders from China, Bangladesh and Mexico have been honoured for their courageous work in the face of great personal risk with the announcement of the Final Nominees for the prestigious Martin Ennals Award 2014.
Shin Dong-Hyuk was born and spent the first 23 years of his life in prison Camp 14 in North Korea. Shin escaped from the camp in 2005, the only person known to have done so, and has since dedicated himself to exposing gross human rights violations in North Koreas and struggling for the freedom of its people.
