2024 Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP) participants and ISHR staff in front of the UN building in Geneva ©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.
Rizal Rozhan, an Advocacy and Capacity-Builder Officer at EMPOWER in Malaysia, plays a crucial role in promoting women's political equality and coordinating national efforts to monitor and implement UPR Recommendations in Malaysia.
Maiga Djingarey, coordinator of Association Femmes et Droits Humains in Mali, passionately advocates for women's rights, focusing on reproductive health, political participation, and education, aiming to empower women and girls through knowledge of their inherent human rights.
Sonia Acabal, a prominent advocate from the No Violence Against Women Network (Rednovi) in Guatemala, spoke about her experiences as a women's rights defender amidst the country's ongoing challenges with violence, corruption, and the fight for justice.
Adaobi Egboka works at the Legal Defence and Assistance Project in Nigeria, focusing on access to justice, good governance, and human rights protection, particularly through legal reforms and support for marginalised individuals.
Betty Barkha, an advisor for the FRIDA Young Feminist Fund in Fiji, supports grassroots organisations through innovative grant-making models and advocates for stronger human rights protections and accountability.
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.
Natasha Latif is a human rights lawyer from Singapore, advocating for women's rights in Afghanistan through her organisation, SAHR.
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.
Pedan Marthe Coulibaly champions women's rights in Côte d'Ivoire, facing challenges and advocating for legal reforms and human rights defenders' protections.
Reine Alapini-Gansou, the former Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders at the African Commission, emphasises the critical synergy between her mandate and civil society for safeguarding defenders in Africa, spotlighting the escalating challenges in regions like Burundi and Congo.
Francess Piagie Alghali, a leading women's rights advocate in Sierra Leone, discusses her transformative journey from the Human Rights Commission to grassroots activism, facing cultural challenges and the struggle for funding while championing women's dignity and rights.
Denis Mukwege, the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate from the DRC, is a distinguished surgeon and human rights advocate dedicated to restoring the dignity of women survivors of sexual violence in conflicts, bravely confronting threats due to his vocal opposition to impunity and economic injustices.
