People around the world use peaceful means to protect, promote and enforce human rights. Their professional or private commitment includes documenting human rights crimes and speaking up for those affected. Human rights defenders often risk their own lives in these activities.

The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) project aims to empower these human rights defenders to network with international, regional and national organisations and exert their influence. The NGO, which works closely with the UN, also provides assistance to people who are imprisoned or subjected to reprisals. The ISHR provides training on the development, use and application of human rights laws. In 2022, the ISHR was able to train around 1‘000 people from 47 countries. In addition, 83 individuals and seven organisations from twenty countries who were subjected to reprisals as a result of their cooperation with the UN benefited from the ISHR’s efforts.