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INTERNATIONAL SERVICE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 134201538 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE R192 · Civil Rights & Advocacy · Small ($100K-$1M) · ishr.ch
revenue
$209K
expenses
$415K
net assets
$32K
employees
5
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY MISSION IS SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND STRENGTHENING HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEMS.

profile · synthesized from sources

International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) supports human rights defenders and strengthens human rights systems globally. The organization works to ensure international and regional human rights mechanisms are accessible and effective, advocating for accountability and protection of defenders. It operates in multiple countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe, focusing on systemic change through engagement with multilateral bodies.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $118K
    Goal III: Human rights mechanisms are accessible, responsive and effective.International and regional human rights laws and mechanisms are accessible to human rights defenders and responsive to their demands, and are effective and influential in promoting, protecting and contributing to the realization of human rights and accountability for violations and abuses.
  2. #2 $81K
    Goal II: States, businesses and other non-State actors respect and protect human rights defenders.States respect and protect human rights defenders and fulfill their human rights obligations at the international, regional and national levels, enabling and promoting their work. Businesses and other nonState actors respect human rights and contribute to a safe and enabling environment for defenders where they operate or have influence.
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Human Rights Advocacy & Accountability 3 activities
    • Advocacy to strengthen human rights systems and protect defenders
      Advocates for legal and policy reforms at national, regional, and international levels to protect human rights defenders from criminalization and reprisals, promote accountability, and ensure states and non-state actors uphold human rights obligations. Engages in strategic advocacy through UN and regional mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council and treaty bodies, and supports implementation of international standards. In 2023, 73% of ISHR's recommendations were adopted during the Universal Periodic Review.
    • Capacity building for human rights defenders through training and advocacy support
      Provides training, strategic advice, legal support, and advocacy assistance to human rights defenders to strengthen their engagement with international, regional, and national human rights mechanisms. Includes flagship programs such as the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP), in-person and online trainings, and targeted workshops for specific groups including environmental, women, LGBTQI+, and defenders in restrictive environments. In 2025, 16,945 people accessed support through the ISHR Academy, and 16 defenders were enrolled in HRDAP.
    • Research to improve accessibility and effectiveness of human rights mechanisms
      Conducts policy research, legislative analysis, and monitoring of international human rights systems, including the UN treaty bodies, Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review, and African Commission. Produces guidebooks, reports, and comparative analyses—such as tracking national laws against the Model Law on Human Rights Defenders—and researches foundational human rights instruments like the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
  • Human Rights Advocacy Funding 1 activity
    • Direct support services for human rights defenders
      Provides direct support and solidarity to human rights defenders, particularly those working on women's rights, gender and sexuality, LGBTIQ+ rights, migrants, Indigenous communities, environmental justice, and democratic accountability. Includes access to information, advocacy resources, and strategic support through the ISHR Academy and other direct engagement initiatives.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$209K
Contributions & grants$59K28%
Program service revenue$150K72%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$415K
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$320K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$63K
Cash$49K
Investments$0
Liabilities$31K
Net assets$32K
Liquid reserves1.4 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue -51.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
THERESA L MCEVOY CO-DIRECTOR 38 $98K
MADELEINE SINCLAIR CO-DIRECTOR 23 $84K
board members · 3
  • HURST HANNUM — Vice President
  • PHIL LYNCH — Treasurer
  • STEPHEN MARKS — President
relationships · 19

Who they work with

  • African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Government — Monitors and reports on states' cooperation and advocates for qualified membership within the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
  • Business Network on Civic Freedoms and Human Rights Defenders Partner — Co-convenes the Business Network on Civic Freedoms and Human Rights Defenders
  • Business Network on Civic Freedoms and Human Rights Defenders Partner — Co-convenes the Business Network on Civic Freedoms and Human Rights Defenders.
  • DefendDefenders Partner — Co-organizes in-person training with ISHR to equip African defenders to engage the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
  • Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) Partner — Co-delivered a joint statement with ISHR during a dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
  • Front Line Defenders Partner — Co-organizes in-person training with ISHR to equip African defenders to engage the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
  • HRDAP Platform Partner — Tailor-made platform on the ISHR Academy used for delivering the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme.
  • Human Rights Council Government — Engages with the Human Rights Council as part of its advocacy work and emphasizes the importance of its adequate and sustainable financing.
  • Human Rights Council Government — Monitors and reports on states' cooperation with the Human Rights Council.
  • UN Antiracism Coalition Partner — Acts as secretariat for the UN Antiracism Coalition.
  • UN General Assembly Government — Collaborated with the UN General Assembly in the adoption of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in 1998.
  • UN Human Rights Council Government — Entity with which individuals have the right to engage when experiencing human rights violations.
  • UN Treaty Bodies Government — Monitors and advocates for effective cooperation between states and UN treaty bodies.
  • UNARC Partner — Acts as secretariat for UNARC
  • United Nations Government — References and promotes the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders as a foundational framework for protecting defenders.
  • Universal Periodic Review Government — Monitors and reports on states' cooperation with the Universal Periodic Review process.
  • key regional and international partners and networks Partner — Collaborates in coalition with regional and international partners and networks to support human rights defenders and engage mechanisms.
  • progressive companies Partner — Collaborates with businesses committed to human rights to support defenders and expand civic space.
  • progressive companies Partner — Collaborates with progressive companies to ensure human rights defenders are included in corporate decisions and benefit from shared civic space.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Defender-Centered Human Rights Protection
    methodology: defender-centered_human_rights
    By protecting and empowering human rights defenders, the organization advances human rights because defenders are essential agents of change who challenge power structures and translate legal rights into practice.
  • Multi-Stakeholder Accountability for Civic Space
    methodology: multi_stakeholder_accountability
    By engaging states, businesses, and civil society in shared accountability, the organization creates safer environments for defenders because systemic change requires coordinated action across power-holding actors.
  • Partner-Led, Coalition-Based Programming
    methodology: partner-led_programming
    By co-designing and implementing strategies with defenders and their networks, the organization ensures relevance and impact because local leadership and collective action are central to sustainable human rights change.
  • Strengthening Human Rights Mechanisms Through Strategic Support
    methodology: strengthening_human_rights_mechanisms
    By increasing access to and effectiveness of international and regional human rights mechanisms through legal, technical, and advocacy support, defenders can hold violators accountable and advance protections because systemic accountability drives change.
  • Universal Participation in Human Rights Advancement
    methodology: universal_participation
    By promoting broad public engagement in human rights defense, the organization drives societal change because widespread participation legitimizes and amplifies rights claims beyond elite or institutional channels.