Annually, the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP) brings together inspiring activists from around the globe and provides them with the tools they need to navigate the UN in order to achieve even greater impact on the ground.
The Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP) is an intensive programme created by and for human rights defenders. Each year, we bring together committed activists who are looking to build their international advocacy skills and networks and leverage them to achieve change in their respective communities.
The programme supports defenders who work on many key human rights issues, including advancing women’s rights; defending the rights of LGBTQI+ persons; combatting racism; bringing about change in highly restrictive environments and creating solutions for business and environmental issues and their impact on indigenous communities.
Through ISHR’s flagship learning programme, defenders get a chance to:
gain new knowledge and tools to ensure their voice is central in international human rights decision-making
explore and compare the benefits of engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, the Special Procedures, the OHCHR, the UPR and the Treaty Bodies, and examine how they can use them to bolster their work at the national level
develop strategies and lobbying techniques to increase the potential of their national and regional advocacy work and contribute to human rights change on the ground
Our HRDAP hybrid model combines 2 months of interactive online learning completed by an intensive 10-days training in Geneva. It consists of the following elements:
A private distance learning course hosted on the tailor-made HRDAP Platform on the ISHR Academy, which provides access to interactive learning materials and e-learning courses on each key UN human rights mechanism and body, as well as advocacy and lobbying strategies
A chance to meet human rights experts and advocates in order to hear first-hand about the strategies used to push issues through the UN
The opportunity to build networks around the world, and learn from peers from a range of regions working on different human rights issues, through the online HRDAP Community Space and in-person
Advocacy support and coaching in order to develop concrete advocacy objectives to make strategic use of the international human rights system
Support and advocacy accompaniment to conduct advocacy (remotely or in-person) during Human Rights Council sessions and other relevant meetings.
HRDAP trains you with experience, passion and expertise. Amazing team, doing important work to empower human rights defenders. A fruitful learning experience that engages you throughout the training process.
HRDAP Alumni
Alumnus’s testimonies
Upcoming sessions
The call for application for the next edition of the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP) 2024 is now closed.
Follow @ISHRGlobalfor announcements regarding the programme and next edition.
As only a limited number of human rights defenders are able to participate in HRDAP each year, in addition to our range of guides and handbooks, ISHR has developed an e-learning space in English, French and Spanish to help human rights defenders strengthen their advocacy skills with the UN for greater impact on the ground: the ISHR Academy. The learning modules demystify the UN human rights system and build capacity to push for change. Discover new tools, insider tips, defender stories, and more!
Women human rights defenders (WHRD) working on environment and climate justice from around the world gathered in Geneva to participate in the Women Human Rights Advocacy Week (WHRD-AW) between 16 and 21 September. Discover their experience below!
Last month, human rights defenders from around the world excelled during ISHR’s flagship training, the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP). For a week and a half, participants engaged with Special Procedures, diplomats and other stakeholders, delivered statements to the Human Rights Council, met with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and more!
Participants in a two-day workshop on the operationalisation of the defenders’ protection mechanism in Côte d’Ivoire developed an action plan centred around four pillars to strengthen the visibility of the Committee and its collaboration with civil society organisations, among others.
This year marks ten years of ISHR's flagship training, the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP), which engages defenders in intensive hybrid training on UN advocacy. We are pleased to welcome a new group to Geneva for the tenth edition of the programme!
Participants at the strategic workshop on the operationalisation of the Protection Mechanism for Defenders held on 24 and 25 April in Bamako, Mali, adopted an action plan to strengthen the national mechanism's capacity to protect defenders.
Are you a human rights defender keen to use the UN to push for change at home? If so, apply for the 2024 edition of ISHR’s flagship training, the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP)!