Photo: ISHR
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!
You want to participate in the next edition? Read the criteria and apply here!
16 human rights defenders brought their advocacy to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from 12-22 June 2024. We were happy to celebrate with them the 10 years of HRDAP, coinciding with 40 years of ISHR! Defenders came from Afghanistan, 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.
Photo: ISHR – Defenders attending a session during HRDAP
The participants had the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they learned from the prior 8 weeks of virtual HRDAP training focusing on UN human rights mechanisms. They worked with their coaches to develop an advocacy roadmap tailored to their goals. They attended training sessions on effective collaboration of civil society organisations with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and on how to obtain consultative status with the UN, just to name a few.
Several defenders spoke at the UN Human Rights Council’s 56th session during the plenary and at side events. They met collectively and individually with many key stakeholders to present their elevator pitches and key messages, in the light of upcoming opportunities to engage with the UN mechanisms (Human Rights Council, Special Procedures, Universal Periodic Review, Treaty Bodies etc.)
[HRDAP is] a programme 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.
Deputy Permanent Representatives from various missions to the UN in Geneva co-led ‘Diplomats Tips’, a session where defenders learn how to effectively advocate for their issues with State diplomats. The defenders had a chance to apply the advice received the very next day when meeting a variety of Special Procedures mandate holders ( for 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 World Café’.
Photo: ISHR. HRDAPers during the ‘NGO breakfast session’ with High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
During an ‘NGO Breakfast’, HRDAP participants met with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, 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 hiking tour of the Salève mountain, just South of the Geneva Switzerland/France border. The activists 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 other defenders sharing their experiences.
As the 2024 session wrapped up, a nice and touching surprise awaited the ISHR team: the participants had secretly prepared a ‘thank you’ video expressing their gratitude to ISHR. With their permission, we are sharing this sweet video where defenders briefly tell what they liked most about the training!
HRDAP also enables defenders to showcase their work and vision through our series of Defender’s stories: watch some of them from Mexico, Venezuela and Benin here!
The Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme has been cherished by ISHR teams and the participating defenders for the past 10 years. This year, HRDAPers also congratulated ISHR on 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
Are you a human rights defender keen to polish your skills in order to engage with the UN for greater impact on the ground? 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 human rights work and build connections with each other. I am deeply grateful of this wonderful opportunity.Lobsang Yangtso, International Tibet Network
*For security reasons, some countries are not disclosed.
We are very grateful to our partners, facilitators, guests, and donors. We extend our special thanks to the US mission, the UK mission, and the Canton of Geneva.
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.'
Zholia Parsi of Afghanistan and Manuchehr Kholiqnazarov of Tajikistan are set to receive the 2024 Martin Ennals Award in recognition of their work in deeply repressive environments.
Are you a human rights defender keen to use the UN to push for change at home? If so, apply for the 2025 edition of ISHR’s flagship training, the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP)!
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!
