International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) is dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights by supporting human rights defenders and strengthening international and regional human rights laws and systems. Human rights defenders are people who promote and protect the human rights of others, whether individually or in association with others. They are people who act with humanity, serve humanity and bring out the best in humanity.

ISHR achieves human rights impact in five key ways:

Strengthening human rights defenders’ capacity – ISHR’s comprehensive training, information products, strategic advice and advocacy accompaniment ensure that national-level human rights defenders can use international and regional human rights mechanisms in the most powerful and effective ways

Strengthening human rights laws and systems – ISHR’s expert policy research and advocacy, together with our access to high-level decision-makers and diplomats within the UN and regional systems, help make those systems more accessible, effective and protective for human rights defenders and the victims they represent

Promoting accountability for violations – ISHR’s unparalleled experience at the UN and with regional bodies means we can use those mechanisms in the most rapid and strategic ways possible to prevent attacks and violations against human rights defenders, and to ensure justice and accountability where they occur

Securing implementation at the national level – ISHR’s unmatched expertise on international human rights defender standards and resolutions, together with our deep partnerships with national human rights networks and organisations, enable us to play an influential role in securing implementation of these standards and resolutions on the ground

Building powerful partnerships for change – ISHR’s strong relationships with key governments, progressive businesses and leading NGOs mean we can build and mobilise powerful partnerships for human rights change

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.

States, foundations and private individuals contribute financially. Find out more