International Service for Human Rights
 |
|
| Founded | 1984 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | promoting and protecting human rights |
| Location | |
|
Area served
|
worldwide |
| Products | Human Rights Monitor |
| Method | supporting human rights defenders, strengthening human rights systems, and leading and participating in coalitions for human rights change |
|
Key people
|
Phil Lynch – Executive Director Rosemary McCreery – Chair Chris Sidoti – Vice-Chair Michael H. Posner |
| Website | ishr.ch |
The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) is an independent, non-profit organization with offices in Geneva and New York which promotes and protects human rights by supporting human rights defenders, strengthening human rights standards and systems, and leading and participating in coalitions for human rights change.
Established in 1984, ISHR's role is to support human rights defenders by building their capacity and expertise, strengthening their recognition and protection under international law, and protecting them from threats, risks and reprisals. ISHR provides human rights defenders with a range of tools and support, including access to high quality research and analysis, tailored training and capacity building services, legal advice and strategic litigation, and advocacy and networking support. ISHR works to strengthen human rights systems by: 1) creating space for human rights defenders and ensuring their voices are heard; 2) protection of human rights defenders from reprisals and intimidation; 3) stronger membership and cooperation with human rights bodies.
ISHR's mission is to:
In 1984 the UN human rights system was very far removed from the realities of the work of human rights defenders at the national level. ISHR was established at the time with the objective of bridging this gap by enabling defenders to access the UN system and to effectively participate at the international level.
Over time, ISHR’s geographic reach has broadened to incorporate regional systems of protection. While its capacity and staff has increased at all levels, advocacy, training, and information services have remained at the heart of ISHR’s work. ISHR has been involved in the development of almost all international standards and protection mechanisms relevant to human rights defenders. These include advocacy around the drafting of the 1996 ECOSOC Resolution providing for the accreditation of NGOs to participate in the work of the Commission on Human Rights and the drafting of the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Declaration on Human Rights Defenders) in 1998. ISHR’s advocacy was also fundamental in the creation of the mandates of the UN and African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Special Rapporteurs on human rights defenders in 2000 and 2005 respectively.
...
Wikipedia