It’s been an incredible year for ISHR and with your support 2014 will be even more impactful!

It’s been an incredible year for the International Service for Human Rights and with your support 2014 will be even more impactful.

The coming of the new year is a time for reflections and resolutions. So we’ve put together a list of the Top 5 things we achieved together in 2013 and the Top 5 things we can resolve to achieve together in 2014!
 

Top 5 achievements in 2013

In partnership with human rights defenders, non-governmental organisations and progressive States, we had a profound impact in 2013.

1. We secured the adoption of the UN’s first ever resolution on women human rights defenders.
2. We provided intensive training and advocacy support to human rights defenders from Syria, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, among many other countries.
3. We spearheaded efforts for the Human Rights Council to adopt landmark resolutions on the protection of human rights defenders, the prevention of reprisals, and the expansion of civil society space.
4. We brought 10 leading gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activists from around the world to Geneva to focus global attention on discrimination and homophobic violence and harassment.
5. On 9 December we celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the adoption of which in 1998 was the culmination of over a decade of ISHR lobbying and advocacy.

Our new year’s resolutions for 2014

We’re proud of our achievements in 2013, but with your support in 2014 we’ll do even more to protect human rights defenders and achieve human rights change.

1. With former ISHR trainees now occupying key positions such as UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Association and Chair of the Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network, we’ll continue to provide our unique high quality training to a new generation of human rights defenders and experts.
2. We’ll roll out an ambitious project to develop a model national law for the protection of human rights defenders, assisting to ensure that the international Declaration on Human Rights Defenders is effectively implemented at the national level.
3. Building on our success in 2013, we’ll lobby and advocate for those who work on the international stage to expose human rights abuses to be protected against reprisals and intimidation when they return home.
4. With a worsening incidence of attacks against those who work to ensure corporate accountability for human rights violations, we’ll intensify our agenda-setting advocacy to put the protection of human rights defenders at the core of the business and human rights framework.
5. We’ll celebrate our 30th birthday and a proud history of human rights impact and success!

With a decline in government funding, ISHR really needs the support of people like you who are committed to human rights and the protection of the brave people who defend them.

Please take a minute now to give generously to ISHR’s end of year appeal and to help make 2014 a great year for ISHR and human rights defenders!

Best wishes

Phil Lynch
Director
International Service for Human Rights