© Zdravka Boudinova for Fine Acts
ISHR provides solidarity and support to defenders working on issues of equality and non-discrimination.
The right to equality, to be treated fairly, and to be free and protected from discrimination is fundamental to human dignity. It is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all of the core human rights treaties, and in many national laws and constitutions.
Many human rights defenders focus their work on ensuring that people and communities are treated fairly and equally, and to address issues of widespread discrimination, such as systemic racism, sexism or misogyny. Many human rights defenders themselves face discrimination because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, sex characteristics, or other characteristics.
Through this programme, ISHR provides solidarity and support to defenders working on issues of equality and non-discrimination. This includes women HRDs (WHRDs) and defenders working on issues of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics (SOGIESC defenders). It also includes migrant and refugee rights defenders, anti-racism and black, indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) defenders, as well as other HRDs working to dismantle patriarchal, racist, capitalist, colonialist and other oppressive agendas.
Read our latest news on Equality, dignity and non-discrimination.
During the General Debate Item 5, ISHR and Association Stop Violences delivered a joint statement highlighting the case of reprisals against woman human rights defender Vanessa Mendoza Cortes in Andorra, following her participation in CEDAW in 2019.
The UN Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of Human Rights by Persons with Albinism presented the Human Rights Council with a report noting continued barriers for defenders working on albinism and calling for greater cooperation between civil society groups.
Assa Traoré, a woman human rights defender and the sister of Adama, a victim of racially-motivated police brutality, has faced reprisals by right-wing extremist groups and the union of the police following her participation in the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
For many rights holders, victims and human rights defenders, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) provides a vital lever increasing pressure for change at the national level, while for others it provides the last resort or only opportunity to expose violations, seek accountability, and garner support for their vital work towards a fair, equal and sustainable world. We need the HRC to be credible, effective and accessible to everyone. This is only possible if States demonstrate leadership, take action in line with objective human rights criteria, ensure that HRC members live up to their responsibilities, and fully cooperate with the HRC and its mechanisms.
The International Service for Human Rights alongside 19 other organisations co-signed a statement to underline their disapproval of the rejection by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights of the applications for observer status of three human rights organisations during its 73rd ordinary session.
ISHR joins calls by the international community and stakeholders to take urgent action to stop the escalation of systemic violence against Sudanese women.
