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.
All human beings have the right to live with dignity, no matter whether they are documented or not. Meriem El May and Sofia Vegas both work for Permanence MNA/RMNA, a Geneva-based legal centre that protects young unaccompanied migrants.
Luisa Rios, Office Director for the Madre Dios branch of the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA), tirelessly advocates for the rights of environmental defenders combating illegal activities in Peru’s forests. Her leadership steers crucial legal support initiatives, aiming to fortify the legal and human rights of vulnerable communities and ecosystems.
Maryam Al-Khawaja, a prominent Bahraini-Danish human rights defender, continues her relentless advocacy for democracy and human rights. As Vice-Chair of the Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights, and a board member at ISHR and CIVICUS, Maryam champions the interconnectedness of global human rights causes.
Angkhana Neelapaijit, a formidable advocate for justice in Thailand, channels her personal tragedy into a fight against enforced disappearances and for the protection of human rights defenders, especially women facing sexual harassment and intimidation.
Patricia Schulz is a Swiss lawyer specialised in international human rights law and gender equality. She is a Senior research associate at UNRISD, the United Nations Research Institute on Social Development, and a former member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
Igor Pereira Bastos from Brazil collaborates with the Global Catholic Climate Movement and Franciscan Action of Ecology and Solidarity, where he champions environmental and social justice. With a focus on grassroots and global initiatives, Igor's work confronts Brazil's inequality by advocating for housing, land rights, and sustainable economic practices.
Olga Karach, Chief of International Centre for Civil Initiatives 'OUR HOUSE' in Belarus, is celebrated for her enduring advocacy for human rights, receiving multiple international awards including the Human Rights Award of the City of Weimar and the Alexander Langer Prize.
Marisa Hutchinson, board member of EQUALS, tirelessly advocates for the visibility and rights of LBQ women in Barbados, striving towards legislative equality and societal acceptance within the community.
Mphatso Sakala, founder and director of the Intersex Society of Zambia, champions the rights and well-being of intersex individuals by promoting inclusive health policies and enhancing visibility amongst policymakers and healthcare providers.
Nfor Hanson Nchanji, an award-winning human rights journalist from Cameroon, shines a light on underreported violations, particularly during the Anglophone crisis, through his platform, Cameroon News Agency.
Abdul Aziz Muhamat, a Sudanese refugee, human rights defender, and the laureate of the 2019 Martin Ennals Award and migrants' rights defender became a beacon of hope for exposing the violations committed against migrants by Australian authorities on Nauru and Manus islands.
Alexus D'Marco, founder of the D’Marco Organization and Caribbean Coordinator of Redlactrans, passionately advocates for the rights and recognition of LGBTI and intersex persons in the challenging socio-cultural landscape of the Caribbean.
