Training

We provide human rights defenders with practical and expert training, information, strategic advice and advocacy support, enabling them to use international and regional human rights mechanisms to achieve change on the ground.

At ISHR, we believe in supporting human rights defenders so they have the tools and networks they need to be effective and influential in promoting, protecting and contributing to the realisation of human rights.

For the past 35 years, we have provided human rights defenders with practical and expert training, information, strategic advice and advocacy support, so they have the tools and capacities to engage and influence international, regional and national mechanisms and actors and, through them, to contribute to the promotion, protection and realisation of human rights at all levels.

ISHR Academy

ISHR Academy is ISHR’s e-learning space, helping human rights defenders strengthen their advocacy skills with the UN for greater impact on the ground. Our learning modules demystify the UN human rights system and build capacity to push for change. Discover new tools, insider tips, Defender Stories, and more!

ISHR Academy

Through our open-access e-learning platform the ISHR Academy, we provide online learning modules, tools, insider tips, stories of good practice and more to help demystify the UN human rights system and build the capacity of human rights defenders to push for change.

Find out more

Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP)

Each year, we bring together inspiring activists from around the globe in our flagship hybrid learning programme the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP). Participants complete an interactive human rights online course through the tailor-made HRDAP Platform on the ISHR Academy, where they gain the knowledge and skills they need to integrate the UN human rights system into their existing work at the national level in a strategic manner. They also receive coaching and advocacy support, opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and networking, and an opportunity to prepare for and engage in lobbying and advocacy activities at the UN through an intensive 10 days-training in Geneva.

Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme

Could you be a future HRDAP defender? Find out more about the programme, our upcoming sessions and join our global HRDAP community of defenders.

Learn more

National and Regional Workshops

At the national and regional levels, we work with partners to provide defenders with highly targeted and tailored trainings, workshops and advocacy support, including to environmental human rights defenders, women human rights defenders, LGBTQI+ rights defenders, and to defenders in highly restrictive environments, including defenders from China, Hong Kong, Egypt and Venezuela among others.