Applications are officially open for the 2026 edition of the ISHR Human Rights Defenders Advocacy Programme. Next year’s HRDAP will be delivered through a blend of online learning and an intensive in-person component in Geneva, with a focus on specific themes and regional contexts. Participants will first take part in a mandatory remote course running part-time from 13 April to 8 June 2026, followed by an immersive training period in Geneva from 10 to 20 June 2026.

This long-running programme is designed to strengthen the capacity of human rights defenders by helping them understand how to use the UN human rights system more effectively in their national advocacy. It also offers a rare opportunity for participants to directly engage in lobbying and advocacy with UN actors, with the intention of creating meaningful impact in their home countries.

The initiative begins with an eight-week online learning phase that supports defenders in deepening their knowledge and shaping their advocacy goals. Through the HRDAP learning platform, participants gain access to interactive materials, including e-courses that explain the major UN human rights mechanisms such as the Human Rights Council, Special Procedures, the Universal Periodic Review and the Treaty Bodies. They also benefit from practical modules on strategic advocacy, case studies featured in the ISHR Academy, live Q&A discussions with specialists and additional tools designed to enhance their ongoing work.

The programme then moves into a ten-day, on-site training in Geneva, where defenders finalise their personalised advocacy plans and further strengthen the skills and confidence required for UN-level engagement. This training includes refreshers on the UN mechanisms, interactive sessions on preventing reprisals, building compelling narratives, translating UN recommendations into local action and maintaining personal wellbeing while conducting human rights work. Participants also work through real-life case simulations, join workshops that prepare them to influence outcomes at the Human Rights Council and other UN forums, and engage in private dialogues with diplomats, experts, civil society representatives and mandate holders. The in-person component also creates space for defenders to exchange experiences and successful practices.

To earn a certificate at the end of the programme, participants are expected to dedicate roughly seven hours per week during the online phase, which includes reviewing preparatory materials and completing e-learning tasks. They must also take part consistently in live sessions and online discussions, be fully present during the in-person training, and attend individual and group coaching meetings held both virtually and face-to-face. Throughout the programme, defenders are required to develop and submit short assignments every two weeks and ultimately present a comprehensive “Advocacy Roadmap”—their personalised theory of change. During their time in Geneva, they are also expected to prepare advocacy tools and documents to support their planned work at the UN.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity