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.
Jianli Yang is the founder and president of Initiatives for China, also known as Citizen Power for China. He has been politically active for a better China since witnessing the horrors of Tiananmen Square in 1989. He was imprisoned from 2002-2007.
Cristina Hardaga Fernandez is a human rights defender working to promote and protect women's rights in Mexico and Central America.
Hassan Shire Sheikh, a Somali-Canadian human rights advocate and Chairperson of EHAHRDN, champions the rights of human rights defenders in East and Horn of Africa, engaging with the UN and regional mechanisms to protect those at risk.
Lucia Nader, Executive Director of Conectas, Brazil, empowers global south human rights defenders and advocates for a comprehensive approach to human rights in a nation grappling with violence and inequality.
Mario Domingo, a Guatemalan human rights lawyer, battles corporate human rights violations. He urges international action, highlighting the need for UN scrutiny of business practices prioritizing human rights over profits.
Discover Masa Amir's journey as a women's rights advocate in Egypt. Influenced by her experiences in the Middle East, she champions gender equality and defends women's rights, overcoming challenges in Egypt's political landscape. Explore her impactful work at international forums like the UN Human Rights Council.
The 2013 Martin Ennals Award highlighted three exceptional human rights activists: Mona Seif from Egypt, Mario Joseph from Haiti, and the Joint Mobile Group in Russia. Celebrated for their resilience and bravery in challenging environments, they exemplified the profound impact and risks faced by human rights defenders worldwide.
In 2010, Fikile Vilakazi, a fearless defender in South Africa, challenged discrimination as a black lesbian woman. As part of the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), she championed LGBTI rights in a nation with persistent discrimination. Fikile's story highlighted the need for justice and equality in the face of discrimination.
