Credits: ISHR. A picture of the ECOSOC learning course.
The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) launches a dedicated e-learning module designed to demystify the path to ECOSOC consultative status, a critical accreditation that opens doors to UN fora, including the Human Rights Council. It is available in English, French and Spanish.
Navigating the United Nations system can be daunting for human rights defenders. This concise, one-hour course is built specifically for NGOs and defenders aiming to deepen their engagement with the UN, by applying to the ECOSOC status. It offers a strategic and practical roadmap based on real-world experiences from defenders across Colombia, the United States, Lebanon, and beyond.
The course is available in English, French and Spanish.
Overview of the ECOSOC course displayed on ISHR Academy
This course is very useful and clear. I'm sure that this will be an essential tool for many organizations wishes to engage in that process.Eliana Margarita Alcalá de Ávila, Colombia
As Lucía Galoppo from Argentina notes, “The status itself is a door-opener… it gives you the possibility to navigate UN spaces more comfortably.” Yet, the process is rigorous. Based on ISHR’s decades long experience of engaging with the Committee on NGOs, along with stories from organisations like the International Dalit Solidarity Network—which faced a 15-year deferral—and the Gulf Center for Human Rights, this module provides first-hand insights into the process.
Whether you are a grassroots organisation seeking to bring local issues to the global stage or an established NGO looking to refine your UN advocacy, this course provides insights regarding a foundational step for effective UN engagement.
Access the course in English, French and Spanish.
ISHR warmly thanks all the human rights defenders who accepted to share their experience and provided valuable feedback from the course.
A cross-regional coalition of 90 States have issued a joint declaration at the UN Human Rights Council emphasising the critical need to defend multilateralism amidst escalating global conflicts and eroding respect for international law and human rights.
Here are 10 human rights impacts we achieved in partnership with defenders and partners from around the world, with the support of our donors!
In a landmark ruling against Burundi, the UN Committee against Torture has set a precedent on the protection of lawyers and human rights defenders engaging with UN mechanisms, affirming that reprisals for cooperating with the UN violate the Convention Against Torture.
