Photo: Francisco Pérez
Last month, human rights defenders from around the world excelled during ISHR’s flagship training– the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP24). For a week and a half, participants engaged with Special Procedures,diplomats and other stakeholders, read statements to the Human Rights Council, met with the OHCHR High Commissioner, Volker Turk, and more!
16 human rights defenders brought their advocacy to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from 12-21 June 2024. We were happy to celebrate with them the 10 years of HRDAP, coinciding with 40 years of ISHR! Defenders came from Sierra Leone, Thailand, Spain, Panama, Nigeria, Mexico, India, Benin, Palestine, Venezuela, Western Sahara, Germany, Comoros, the United States of America, Tibet and El Salvador*. They work on environmental justice, gender rights, international accountability, the rights of intersex persons, anti-racism, migrants’ rights and human rights defender protection.
The participants had the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they learned from the prior 8 weeks of virtual HRDAP training, about UN human rights mechanisms. The defenders used their time in a variety of ways: they worked with their coaches to develop an advocacy roadmap tailored to their activism; they attended training sessions like “OHCHR: How to work effectively with CSOs?”, and “Consultative Status: What is it and how to obtain it?”; and many spoke at the UN Human Rights Council during the plenary (HRC56) and side events. They met collectively and individually with many key stakeholders to present their elevator pitches and key messages, in the light of upcoming UN opportunities (HRC, Special Procedures, Universal Periodic Review, Treaty Bodies etc.)
Photo: Francisco Pérez – Defenders attending a session during HRDAP
[HRDAP is] a program with everything you need to consolidate your knowledge in human rights, offering a huge opportunity to expand your network and a wonderful experience to meet other human rights defenders with similar or diverse experiences like yours.Emiliano Vergara, Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas (Frayba)
Along the way, the defenders met key players in their area of advocacy.
Deputies Permanent Representative from various countries to the UN in Geneva, co-led “Diplomats Tips”, a training session for the defenders to learn how to effectively advocate for their issues with State diplomats and the defenders applied that advice the very next day- The HRDAP participants met a variety of Special Procedures mandate holders (internally displaced persons, freedom of expression, counter-terrorism…). They had the opportunity to discuss their advocacy goals during briefings with the Special Rapporteur on the human right to a healthy environment, Astrid Puentes Riaño, and the Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Graeme Reid. In addition to these briefings, participants met with more mandate holders and their supporting staff during a “Special Procedures Café”.
Photo: Francisco Pérez – HRDAPers during the NGO breakfast session of HRDAP, with Volker Turk, High Commissioner for Human Rights
During an “NGO Breakfast”, HRDAP participants met with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, and many non-profits based in Geneva. The participants were able to ask him highly relevant questions on the OHCHR’s work regarding their advocacy. Afterwards, they connected with the non-profit representatives and discussed opportunities for collaboration and future engagement.
[Sharing stories] humanises us and brings out the point that we mostly have shared reasons for doing what we do.Zulu Anyaogu, Partnership for Justice
The participants built solidarity among themselves, with activities designed to hold space for community building between one another. The group embarked on a journey to the Salève mountains, just south of the Geneva Switzerland/France border. They also shared stories on how and why each individual chose to become a human rights defender. Many found this event to be validating, because they saw similarities between themselves and the defender sharing their experiences.
Participants did a thank you video to show their gratitude to ISHR after the training and explained what they liked:
Finally, HRDAP enables defenders to showcase their work through our series of Defender’s stories: if you want to learn more, watch some of them from Mexico, Venezuela or Benin here!
The HRDAP training programme is cherished by both ISHR staff and the defenders who participate. They even gave ISHR well-wishes for our 40th Anniversary! Thank you to all the participants for their engagement and for making this world a better place!
Grateful for more birthday wishes from human rights defenders as we continue our mission to support and act in solidarity with activists around the world. The unwavering support from them and the community at #HRDAP24 was truly empowering. We look forward to next year's cohort💥. pic.twitter.com/9dhnOzywpJ
— ISHR (@ISHRglobal) July 11, 2024
We are very grateful to our partners, facilitators, guests, and donors. We provide special thanks to the US mission, the UK mission, and the Canton of Geneva.
If you want to participate in HRDAP next year, find more information here!
Thank you ISHR for this very practical, meaningful, and impactful opportunity for all of us. It will enhance our future HRD work and build connections with each other. I am deeply grateful of this wonderful opportunity.Lobsang Yangtso, International Tibet Network
HRDAPers during a refresher session on UN mechanisms
HRDApers in a side-event at HRC56
*For security reasons, some countries are not disclosed.
People either agree or strongly agree with the statement, "I feel part of a wider community of human rights defenders"
People found the ISHR Academy and HRDAP Platform extremely useful to their work
People either agree or strongly agree with the statement, "I feel equipped to implement my advocacy strategies"
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!
As she is ‘almost free’, former Senator de Lima along with ISHR calls on the Human Rights Council to release others who remain arbitrarily detained in the Philippines.
ISHR and the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) organised a training on engaging strategically with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights ahead of its 77th ordinary session and the NGO Forum, in Arusha, Tanzania.
