Our Advocates

Between 1989 and 2023, more than 350 advocates from nearly 100 countries have attended the program. HRAP participants have ranged from early-career advocates who cut their teeth in very urgent human rights situations to mid-career advocates who have founded organizations. HRAP alumni have served as UN special rapporteurs, in the ministries of their governments, and at leading human rights organizations around the globe. They have been recognized with honors including the Rafto Prize, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award and the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, the highest acknowledgment from the international human rights community.

Below are the biographies of current Advocates and descriptions by select alumni as to why they became human rights advocates.

To see a list of additional past Advocates click here.

To read about more about the work of our Advocates click here .

 

Pornsuk Koetsawang, 1999
Thailand
Mikheil Mirziashvili, 1999
Georgia
Chantha Muth, 1999
Cambodia
Makubetse Sekhonyane, 1999
South Africa
Maya Sharma
Maya Sharma, 1999
India
Tunde Musibau Akanni, 1998
Nigeria
Anna Penido
Anna Penido, 1998
Brazil
Budi Santoso
Budi Santoso, 1998
Indonesia
Silvana Turner
Silvana Turner, 1998
Argentina
Fernando Rossetti Ferreira
Fernando Rossetti Ferreira, 1997
Brazil
Nuala Kelly, 1997
Ireland
Tunde Olugboji, 1997
Nigeria
Chitra Balakrishnan
Chitra Balakrishnan, 1996
India
Twesigye Jackson Kaguri
Twesigye Kaguri, 1996
Uganda
Aurora Parong
Aurora Corazon A. Parong, 1996
Philippines