International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) was established in 1984 to bridge the gap between the international human rights system and the work of human rights defenders at the national level by enabling defenders to access and participate in the UN system. Over time, ISHR expanded its reach to include regional systems and increased its staff and capacity, while advocacy, training, and information services remained central. ISHR has been instrumental in developing international standards and protection mechanisms for human rights defenders, including the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. It continues to work closely with governmental and non-governmental organizations worldwide to improve protection of human rights defenders.