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After four years of legal struggle, Moldova’s first independent medical workers’ union wins a landmark Supreme Court case as a result of sustained capacity building and advocacy support.

At the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) raised the situation for political prisoners in Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Russian-occupied Crimea, including jailed colleagues from the Network of Human Rights Houses, reiterating calls for their release. HRHF worked alongside Network partners calling for action on the repressive strategies of authorities in Georgia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to attack civic space and fundamental freedoms, as well as advocating for strong resolutions on civic space, safety of journalists, the freedoms of assembly and association, and on Ukraine.

From 9 to 13 June, human rights defenders and civil society actors from across the Network of Human Rights Houses and beyond gathered in Oslo for the 2025 Network meeting. Amidst increasing global challenges faced by civil society, participants came together not only to share but also to build new strategies and forge solidarity.

From 8 March to 11 April, the Portraits of Strength exhibition was presented in Croatia’s three largest cities: Zagreb, Osijek, and Split. In close collaboration with local civil society, Human Rights House Zagreb organised the exhibitions and panel discussions. The events brought the powerful stories of women human rights defenders from across the Network of Human Rights Houses to a wider Croatian audience, highlighting the crucial role that women play in defending human rights.

From 12 to 16 May 2025, the civil-society led Crimea Week took place in Brussels with a series of advocacy and cultural events gathering policymakers, civil society, and international institutions, providing platforms for sharing testimonies and fostering dialogue. The programme aimed at highlighting the human rights situation in Crimea under Russian occupation.

Women human rights defenders (WHRDs) play a vital role in protecting and promoting human rights—often in the face of discrimination, threats, and violence. A powerful new exhibition by Human Rights House Banja Luka sheds light on the work of 12 such defenders, sharing their stories of resilience, solidarity, and impact.

At HRC58, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) continued to amplify the voices of civil society and human rights defenders facing increased repression across Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Balkans. In particular, HRHF worked alongside partners to highlight ongoing human rights violations in Belarus, Georgia, and in the context of continued Russian military aggression against Ukraine.

In 2024, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) worked closely with the Network of Human Rights Houses and other civil society partners to protect and promote human rights amidst increasing challenges, including rising authoritarianism. Find out more in HRHF’s 2024 annual report.

In 2024, HRHF offered one-on-one support for advocates from the Network of Human Rights Houses as part of its strategic coaching and mentoring work. This included working closely with partners like Anastasiya Dziubanava from the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, who was involved in advocating on two key resolution processes on Belarus at the UN Human Rights Council on the establishment of the Group of Independent Experts and the renewal of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate. In this interview, Dziubanava shares insight into these processes.