Announcing the launch of our Annual Report

Effectively realising human rights for everyone, everywhere is the pathway to free, fair and just communities and a more peaceful and sustainable world. This must remain our north star as we face the multiple and worsening crises and conflicts around the world.

ISHR is thrilled to invite you to discover our latest annual report, outlining our key impacts during the last year and our vision for 2024 and the years ahead.

What did we achieve in 2023?

Here are just a few examples of our collective impact:

We provided support and solidarity to almost 1,100 human rights defenders from more than 60 countries, strengthening their work for gender justice, environmental justice, racial justice and accountability for gross violations.
Together with national civil society partners and based on objective criteria, we successfully campaigned to defeat Russia’s bid for election to the Human Rights Council.
Together with Black-led organisations and the families and representatives of African and Afro-descendant people killed by police, we coordinated civil society and affected community engagement with missions by UN experts on racial justice to the United States and Brazil.
Together with defenders from Sudan and Nicaragua, we advocated successfully to establish and strengthen international mechanisms to investigate and promote accountability for gross human rights violations in those countries.

See more achievements by clicking on the video below:

We would like to thank all our donors for their crucial support and invite everyone who believes in our work and mission to help us support human rights defenders to achieve their goals. Your contributions are vital to our collective human rights impact, success and hope.

ISHR is set to mark its 40th anniversary in 2024 and as this occasion coincides with the tail end of our latest five-year strategic cycle, we want to hear from you! Please share your thoughts on our work and the challenges you would like us to see tackle by filling out this short survey.

To access the survey, click here.

Freedom of expression, association & assembly

Civil society calls for renewal of key mandate on human rights in Russia at HRC60

05 September 2025

Over a dozen organisations sent a joint letter to all States members of the Human Rights Council, calling for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia. Read the letter below.

HRC elections 2025: As civil society demands an effective and responsive Council, candidates share their pledges

05 September 2025

Candidate States to the Human Rights Council presented their pledges and responded to questions by civil society on their human rights records, while elaborating on their vision to improve the work of the Council at ISHR’s and Amnesty International’s annual event.

Women's rights

HRC60: Key issues on agenda of the September 2025 session

03 September 2025

The 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council will consider issues including acts of intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN, systemic racism, environment and climate justice, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples and people of African descent. It will also present an opportunity to address grave human rights situations in States including Afghanistan, Burundi, China, Israel/oPt, Nicaragua, Russia, Sudan and Venezuela, and many others. Here's an overview of some of the key issues on the agenda.