International Service for Human Rights

Founded in 1984, ISHR has offices in Geneva (Switzerland) and New York (United States), as well as a permanent presence in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

We support and act in solidarity with human rights defenders in their work for freedom, dignity, equality, justice and other fundamental values at the international, regional and national levels. Our approach to supporting human rights work is based on three core pillars:

1. Supporting human rights defenders

We provide human rights defenders with tailored advice on how to best use international and regional human rights mechanisms. We provide comprehensive trainings, workshops, information products and advocacy support, ranging from accompaniment in their work to legal advice. We play an influential role on the ground to ensure the implementation of international standards in relation with human rights defenders through our expertise and partnerships with local human rights organisations and networks. We build, coordinate and mobilise partnerships for human rights change through our strong relationships with leading governments, progressive companies and human rights NGOs. For example, we act as the secretariat for the UN Antiracism Coalition (UNARC) and as co-convenor of the Business Network on Civic Freedoms and Human Rights Defenders.

2. Promoting rights and accountability

Our unparalleled experience working with the UN and with other regional bodies allows us to rapidly and strategically use those mechanisms to prevent violations and attacks against human rights defenders and to ensure justice and accountability. We work to ensure that States respect and protect human rights defenders and fulfil their human rights obligations at the international, regional and national levels. We also work to ensure that businesses and other non-State actors respect human rights and contribute to a safe and enabling environment for defenders where they operate.

3. Strengthening human rights laws and systems

We use our policy research and advocacy, together with our access to decision-makers and diplomats within the UN and regional systems, to help make those systems more accessible, effective and protective for human rights defenders and the victims they represent. Human rights defenders are accompanied and supported in their demands for promoting, protecting and contributing to the realisation of human rights and justice for violations and abuses.

Our reach is global thanks to our network of human rights defenders, the diverse human rights fields we contribute to and our privileged connections with the United Nations and other important stakeholders.