For more than 40 years, the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) has worked alongside human rights defenders to promote freedom, dignity, equality and justice. The organisation strengthens human rights defenders and their networks, helping them make effective use of national, regional and international human rights mechanisms.

This work is particularly important in the context of growing authoritarian tendencies, increasing attacks on human rights, and declining international funding. ISHR supports detained and at-risk human rights defenders through advice, accompaniment and international advocacy. Through training programmes, the ISHR Academy and targeted advocacy tools, the organisation also helps strengthen knowledge, skills and networks.

Liechtenstein has supported ISHR for several years. This strategic support enables the organisation to respond flexibly to particularly urgent situations. In 2025, support was provided to human rights defenders in Cameroon, Sudan, Colombia, Guatemala and Afghanistan, among others.

In this way, Liechtenstein helps protect human rights defenders from reprisals, strengthens their participation in international human rights mechanisms, and contributes to efforts to combat impunity for serious human rights violations.