Human rights defender’s story: Nathalia Bonilla from Ecuador
'A revolution where you can’t dance is not my revolution,' Ecuadorian environmentalist Nathalia Bonilla told ISHR, arguing for an ‘environmentalism for the people'.
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40 States warn: protect UN human rights pillar from devastating funding cuts
40 countries, led by Chile, warned that proposed budget cuts under the UN80 initiative would severely weaken an already underfunded UN human rights pillar. As negotiations kick off in New York, ISHR urges States to prevent disproportionate cuts to human rights and ensure the international human rights system remains credible, effective and responsive.
Business and Human Rights Forum: implementing policies, binding regulations key to company accountability
From 24-26 November, the 14th Forum on Business and Human Rights took place in Geneva. ISHR participated in various activities together with human rights defenders working on corporate accountability.
NGO Committee election
The NGO Committee - the body at the UN who decides which NGO can or cannot speak at the UN - will face elections in April 2026. We need strong candidates that ensure civil society can access and participate fully at the UN. Join to campaign so States elect to stand up for civil society!
HRDAP 2026: Apply for ISHR’s training for defenders resisting democratic backsliding and advancing racial justice
Are you a human rights defender working on democratic backsliding and/or racial justice, keen to use the UN to push for change at home? If so, apply for the 2026 edition of ISHR’s flagship training, the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP)!
States must ensure adequate resources for Human Rights Council to fulfill its mandate
ISHR delivered a statement during the organisational meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on 8 December 2025. Read the full statement below.
ISHR fundraising appeal donor board
A big thanks to everyone who is getting behind our fundraising appeal and investing in a better world by supporting human rights defenders!
UN Committee stresses Bahrain’s failure to prevent torture, protect defenders
The UN Committee against Torture reviewed Bahrain’s fourth periodic report during its 83rd session in Geneva in November 2025. The dialogue focused heavily on the situation of human rights defenders, torture, accountability, and conditions of detention.
Paths towards corporate accountability in the context of the genocide in Gaza
As the genocide in Gaza exposes deep corporate complicity, experts and human rights defenders convened in Geneva to discuss urgent paths toward accountability. This discussion unpacked how businesses, investors, and States must act now to end profiteering from atrocity crimes.
ISHR continues its advocacy for the adoption of the defenders’ law in Nigeria
On 26 November 2025, ISHR organised, in partnership with Development Dynamics, a legislative advocacy dialogue on the Nigerian Bill of Human Rights Defenders Protection.