International Service for Human Rights

International Service for Human Rights
AbbreviationISHR
Formation1984
TypeNon-governmental organization
HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland
Region served
Worldwide
Websiteishr.ch

International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) is an international non-governmental organization that promotes and protects human rights by supporting human rights defenders and working to strengthen human rights laws, institutions and mechanisms. Founded in 1984, ISHR has offices in Geneva, Switzerland, and New York City, United States, and a permanent presence in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.[1] The organisation works with human rights defenders and civil society organisations and engages with United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms.[2]

History

ISHR was established in 1984 and initially focused on supporting human rights defenders and strengthening their access to international human rights institutions. The organisation's historical account identifies its work on international standards for the protection of human rights defenders as a central part of its development.[3]

In 1993, ISHR facilitated civil-society participation in the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna. The conference adopted the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which, among other outcomes, called for the establishment of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.[3]

ISHR subsequently advocated for an international declaration concerning the rights and responsibilities of human rights defenders. In 1998, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, by consensus, the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, commonly known as the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.[4] ISHR states that its lobbying and advocacy contributed to the development and adoption of the declaration.[3]

In 2000, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights requested the Secretary-General to appoint a special representative on the situation of human rights defenders. Hina Jilani was subsequently appointed to the position and served from 2000 to 2008.[5] ISHR's historical account identifies its advocacy on human rights defenders as part of the wider civil-society campaign preceding the establishment of the mandate.[3]

ISHR has also participated in civil-society advocacy concerning the establishment and development of the United Nations Human Rights Council, including the design of its Universal Periodic Review mechanism and the review of the Council's special procedures.[3]

Yogyakarta Principles

In 2006, ISHR and the International Commission of Jurists facilitated the development of the Yogyakarta Principles, a set of principles concerning the application of international human rights law to violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The principles were developed by a group of 29 international human rights experts following a meeting at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from 6 to 9 November 2006.[6][7]

The International Commission of Jurists states that it worked together with ISHR to facilitate the development of the principles.[7] The principles have subsequently been used in international, regional and national human rights advocacy and legal analysis.[8]

In 2017, ISHR and ARC International facilitated the development of the Yogyakarta Principles plus 10, which supplemented the original principles to address subsequent developments concerning sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.[9]

Model Law on human rights defenders

In 2016, ISHR launched a Model National Law on the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights Defenders. The model law was developed over a three-year period with input from more than 500 human rights defenders from more than 110 states and was settled and adopted by 28 international human rights experts and jurists.[10]

The model law is intended to provide guidance to states and other actors on implementing the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders at the national level. It contains model legal provisions and commentary concerning the rights of human rights defenders and the obligations of public authorities.[10]

An independent evaluation of an ISHR project on increasing legal protection for human rights defenders in Africa and Asia, covering September 2016 to August 2019, examined the project's work to advance national protection laws and enable human rights defenders to use international and regional human rights systems.[11] The evaluation found evidence of increased knowledge and capacity among human rights defenders and civil-society networks and examined the model law as one of the tools used to support national protection initiatives.[11]

Activities

ISHR's activities include training and capacity building, research and analysis, legal and policy advice, strategic advocacy, coalition building and support for participation by human rights defenders in international and regional human rights mechanisms.[1][2]

The organisation works with the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Universal Periodic Review, United Nations special procedures and treaty bodies, as well as regional human rights mechanisms including the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.[2]

ISHR provides training and advocacy support to human rights defenders through programmes including the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme and the ISHR Academy, an online learning platform concerning the use of international and regional human rights mechanisms.[12]

ISHR also produces research reports, briefing papers, guides and other resources for human rights defenders. Its publications include the Human Rights Monitor, which covers developments in international and regional human rights mechanisms and opportunities for civil-society participation.[13]

The organisation also works on issues including equality and non-discrimination, business and human rights, land and environmental rights, accountability for serious human rights violations, and national and international protection of human rights defenders.[2]

Independent evaluations

ISHR has commissioned or participated in several external evaluations of its work, including evaluations commissioned by donors and government agencies.[14]

A 2017 external evaluation by human rights expert Holly Cartner assessed ISHR's relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability. The evaluation was based on 52 interviews conducted between March and May 2017 and a review of organisational documents.[15] The evaluation reported that external interviewees viewed ISHR as an influential organisation with substantial expertise and networks within the United Nations system. It also identified ISHR's role in supporting, training and advocating with and for human rights defenders.[15]

The 2019 external evaluation of ISHR's legal-protection project examined work in Africa and Asia and was commissioned by Bread for the World. It was undertaken by Sheila B. Keetharuth, Angela Naggaga-Forbes and William Paul Simmons.[11] The evaluation reported increased knowledge and capacity among human rights defenders and networks and examined the influence of the Model Law and related advocacy on national protection initiatives.[11]

In 2020, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland commissioned a review of human rights advocacy by nine international non-governmental organisations, including ISHR. The review assessed the organisations' relevance and effectiveness in relation to international human rights and development policy.[16]

The Finland review reported broad agreement among its interviewees that ISHR's strategy and programme were relevant to the needs of human rights defenders. It also examined ISHR's training, capacity-building, coalition work and engagement with international human rights mechanisms.[16]

The evaluations describe ISHR's contribution as part of wider networks of human rights defenders, civil-society organisations and international institutions. They do not establish that particular human rights outcomes were caused exclusively by ISHR.[15][11][16]

Current strategy

In February 2026, ISHR published a Strategic Framework covering its work through 2030. The framework places human rights defenders at the centre of the organisation's work and identifies challenges including authoritarianism, climate change, discrimination, restrictions on civil society, emerging technologies and accountability for serious international crimes.[2]

The strategy also identifies work to strengthen human rights laws, systems, networks and mechanisms at national, regional and international levels.[2]

Organisation

ISHR describes itself as an independent, non-profit organisation. It is governed by a Board of Directors and has offices in Geneva and New York, with a permanent presence in Abidjan.[1]

The United Nations Office at Geneva lists the International Service for Human Rights among accredited non-governmental organisations and identifies Switzerland as its headquarters country.[17]

ISHR publishes annual reports and financial statements concerning its activities and finances.[14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About ISHR". International Service for Human Rights. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Strategy 2030: ISHR's new Strategic Framework". International Service for Human Rights. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Our History". International Service for Human Rights. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Declaration on human rights defenders" (PDF). Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 9 December 1998. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Events around the 20th anniversary of Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of Human Rights Law in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity". International Service for Human Rights. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Yogyakarta Principles". International Commission of Jurists. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  8. ↑ O'Flaherty, Michael (2019). "The Yogyakarta Principles at Ten". The International Journal of Human Rights. 23 (4).
  9. ↑ "The Yogyakarta Principles plus 10". Yogyakarta Principles. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Groundbreaking Model Law to recognise and protect human rights defenders". International Service for Human Rights. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Keetharuth, Sheila B.; Naggaga-Forbes, Angela; Simmons, William Paul (March 2019). External Evaluation on Increasing Legal Protections at the International, Regional and National Levels for Human Rights Defenders Working in Africa and Asia (PDF) (Report). International Service for Human Rights. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Learning with the ISHR Academy: Who is ISHR and what is the ISHR Academy?". ISHR Academy. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Human Rights Defenders' Toolbox". International Service for Human Rights. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Our Impact". International Service for Human Rights. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 Cartner, Holly (May 2017). International Service for Human Rights: An Evaluation (PDF) (Report). International Service for Human Rights. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 Review of Human Rights Advocacy of International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) (Report). Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "List of NGOs accredited at the UN Office at Geneva". United Nations Office at Geneva. Retrieved 11 August 2026.


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