International Service For Human Rights - History

History

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 since the beginning.

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 around the creation of the mandates of the UN and African Commission Special Rapporteurs on human rights defenders in 2000 and 2005 respectively resulted in the establishment of a dedicated Human Rights Defenders Office within ISHR in 2001 to work directly with the Rapporteurs and strengthen their effective engagement with defenders.

In 2003 ISHR assumed a facilitating role at the NGO Forum prior to the annual meeting of the African Commission and became a co-facilitator of NGOs for the Asia Pacific Forum in 2006.

In 2006 ISHR was instrumental in the drafting of the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity. It also played a central role in the creation of the United Nations Human Rights Council (the Council), particularly the drafting of the modalities of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism (UPR) and the review of the system of special procedures. And also has been instrumental in drafting of the "Activist's Guide to the Yogyakarta Principles" by the Yogyakarta Principles in Action.