Annual Report: Seeds of hope, roots of resistance

Now is the time to come together for human rights - to organise, resist and invest. Now is the time to come together for a more inclusive and effective multilateralism - firmly rooted in values. And now is the time to come together for defenders - protecting, supporting and nourishing our seeds of hope.

There is a fire sweeping through the international human rights system, fueled by rising authoritarianism, militarism and disinformation, and accelerated by an acute funding crisis. The fire is causing devastation, reducing the capacity of the system to prevent, investigate or ensure accountability for gross human rights violations from Afghanistan, to Myanmar, to Sudan, to Venezuela.

While extinguishing the fire may be beyond ISHR’s control, or even that of the global human rights movement, we can play a vital role in safeguarding the roots – core human rights principles and values – and feeding the seeds – human rights defenders – that are essential for post-fire regeneration.

In 2026 and beyond, there are a number of core values and principles that will guide and drive ISHR’s work for a more healthy, diverse and sustainable human rights ecosystem:

First, we are convinced that respect for human rights, the rule of law and multilateral cooperation are essential for peace, justice, security, good governance, sustainable development and a healthy planet.
Second, we know that the work of human rights defenders is essential for the realisation of all human rights, particularly those of people and communities subject to various and intersecting forms of discrimination.
Third, we recognise and deplore that many human rights defenders face violence, risks and repression, whether in their home country or in exile, including from State, business and other non-State actors.
Finally, we are convinced that the health of the human rights ecosystem requires support for, and coordination between, human rights defenders and organisations working on diverse issues at the local, national, regional and international levels.

Now – as the fires of militarism, colonialism, populism and patriarchy burn – is the time for human rights and those who defend them. Human rights were elaborated for precisely this moment, this rupture. As a constraint on power. A bulwark against lawlessness. And a guarantor of our individual and collective aspirations for dignity, representation and self-determination.