Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) has launched the third edition of Portraits of Strength, aiming to honour and promote the crucial work of women human rights defenders (WHRDs). The Exhibition shares portraits and stories from WHRDs working on a variety of issues including the documentation of human rights violations and alleged war crimes, the rule of law, women’s rights, political prisoners, freedom of expression, and more.

WHRDs work to protect and advance freedoms, while facing discrimination and stereotypes, based on their gender, about their role and participation in society. In civil society, women often face additional threats, violations, and abuse – from smear campaigns to sexual and gender-based violence.

The photographs were taken by local female photographers and journalists and portray WHRDs from across the Network of Human Rights Houses working on a diverse array of issues in several countries.

History of Portraits of Strength

The first edition of Portraits of Strength was launched by HRHF in 2014 on International Women Human Rights Defenders Day in response to the landmark UN resolution in the previous year (General Assembly resolution 68/181). The resolution acknowledged the serious challenges faced by WHRDs, and urged far greater efforts to protect and empower them.

In 2020, HRHF launched a second edition of Portraits of Strength which was exhibited during the HUMAN International Documentary Film Festival and in Human Rights Houses across the region of the Network.

Past exhibitions

Reception Evening: 30th Anniversary of the Network of Human Rights Houses

9 October 2024

Human Rights House Oslo, Norway

The third edition of Portraits of Strength was first launched as an exhibition on 9 October 2024 in Oslo during a reception evening marking the 30th anniversary of the Network of Human Rights Houses.

The evening brought together representatives from the Network, HRHF board members, Norwegian diplomats, and civil society to honour the anniversary.

International Women Human Rights Defenders Day Exhibition at Crimean House

29 November 2024

Kyiv, Ukraine

On November 29 2024, Human Rights House Crimea and Educational House Human Rights Chernihiv co-organised the exhibition at Crimean House in Kyiv, Ukraine as part of an evening marking International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, and celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Network of Human Rights Houses.

The event included a thematic discussion on the role of WHRDs in Ukraine within the context of the full-scale Russian invasion, and featured panelists from three editions of Portraits of Strength:

• Valentyna Potapova (third edition)
• Yuliia Kishenko (third edition)
• Olha Skrypnyk (second edition)
• Yuliia Krasilnykova (second edition)
• Daria Svyrydova (first edition)
• Tetiana Pechonchyk (first edition)

They were joined on stage by Oleksandra Romantsova, Executive Director of the Center for Civil Liberties.

The event was organised with the support of the ZMINA Human Rights Center and the European Union.

Are you interested in hosting the exhibition in your city? Let’s talk about it.

Gayane Hambardzumyan, Armenia

[My motivation is] to raise a generation of kids that thinks about peace, not war.

Gayane Hambardzumyan is an Armenian human rights defender. She has been working with Women Resource Center (WRC), an Armenian women’s rights organisation and member of Human Rights House Yerevan almost since its establishment in 2003. She established WRC’s branch, Women’s Center Shushi, in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Read the interview with Gayane Hambardzumyan.

Rovshana Rahimova, Azerbaijan

A special source of motivation is helping activists, journalists, and those arrested due to politically motivated persecution. Their strength and struggle also inspire us. Even a small success in our work gives us a second wind.

Rovshana Rahimova is a human rights lawyer from Azerbaijan. She has been involved in defending human rights for over 10 years focusing on women’s rights and countering domestic violence, including protection of the victims and national advocacy. Currently, as a member of the Azerbaijani Bar Association, she also works on the cases of several political prisoners.

Read the interview with Rovshana Rahimova.

Dragana Dardić, Bosnia and Herzegovina

I want the laws to be the same for everyone – equally applicable to all, for people to feel safe and be free to express their opinions publicly, for politics to be a skill of governance rather than a tool for enrichment and division, for war-mongering narratives to be replaced by peaceful ones, for us to choose where to go for a concert, dance, or vacation instead of choosing which country to escape to from here.

Dragana Dardić is a human rights defender from Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is currently a Program Director at Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, member organisation of Human Rights House Banja Luka. In her work, Dardić focuses on women’s rights, the rights of marginalised groups, and the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association.

Read the interview with Dragana Dardić.

Taciana Niadbaj, Belarus

Human rights are like seatbelts that minimise harm to yourself and others should an emergency occur. Emergencies like crises, turbulence, or wars very often become an excuse to renounce human rights and become a reason to question their value.

Taciana Niadbaj is a Belarusian writer and human rights defender. Niadbaj started her work in the NGO sector by cooperating with independent media and she is currently the Chair of the Board of the Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House and Chair of PEN Belarus.

Read and listen to the interview with Taciana Niadbaj.

Sara Kekuš, Croatia

I aspire to live in a society where solidarity and equality are shared values, believing that each small change we make today will eventually lead to a tipping point.

Sara Kekuš is a human rights defender from Croatia. She works at the Centre for Peace Studies, a member organisation of Human Rights House Zagreb, as a Programme Director and Coordinator of the Protecting and Promoting the Right to Asylum and Migration Programme.

Read the interview with Sara Kekuš.

Natia Tavberidze, Georgia

Even though many human rights defenders face extremely difficult situations in various countries—whether it’s illegal imprisonment, war and conflict, or the loss of loved ones and colleagues—people always find a way to regain their strength through mutual support and solidarity, rising once again. In these challenging times, when there seems to be no way out, standing together in solidarity and offering support is what matters most.

Natia Tavberidze is a human rights defender from Georgia. She has been involved in human rights activities for over 15 years and, currently, as a Coordinator of Human Rights House Tbilisi, Tavberidze focuses on freedom of expression, support and protection of human rights defenders.

Read the interview with Natia Tavberidze.

Asria Taleb Mohamed, Norway

From where I stand now I can see that being a human rights defender is a natural destination for people who have grown up with their rights violated.

Asria Taleb Mohamed is a human rights defender from Western Sahara who works for the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara, a member of the Norwegian Council for Africa (a member organisation of Human Rights House Oslo), and advocates for women’s rights, international law, the right to self-determination, and the rights of refugees. With a background in journalism, Taleb Mohamed’s work is focused on informing the world about Western Sahara, through art, media and public speaking.

Read and watch the interview with Asria Taleb Mohamed.

Maria Poszytek, Poland

What motivates me to be a human rights defender is making people feel less alone knowing someone is willing to support them and fight for their rights.

Maria Poszytek is a lawyer and human rights defender from Poland. She works at the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, a member of the Network of Human Rights Houses, and focuses on rights of migrants, especially the right to liberty, right to life and security, right to an effective remedy, right to freedom of torture and inhuman treatment, rights of the child.

Read the interview with Maria Poszytek.

Liubov Vinogradova, Russia

The early years after the collapse of the USSR were so inspiring… We were optimists. Very naive optimists. It was only later that we realised how much time and effort the situation required. And still requires.

Liubov Vinogradova (1952 – 2024), a Russian human rights defender and medical psychologist, passed away in May 2024. Vinogradova was the Executive Director of the Independent Psychiatric Association of Russia (IPA) from 1989 until her passing, working to expose and end the practice of punitive psychiatry in Russia.

Human Rights House Foundation has included the portrait of Liubov Vinogradova to third edition of the “Portraits of Strength” photo exhibition in memory and in celebration of her life dedicated to human rights, and for her crucial role in the early establishment of the Network.

Read more.

Dragoslava Barzut, Serbia

Since there are numerous prejudices against human rights defenders and … non-governmental organisations in Serbia, we are often exposed to smear campaigns and attacks by pro-government media due to our work. Often, the targets of these attacks are women. Women in Serbia are not forgiven for their activism.

Dragoslava Barzut is a writer and human rights defender from Serbia. She is a Public Policy Program Manager at Civic Initiatives, a member organisation of Human Rights House Belgrade. Barzut’s work centres on combating hate speech and hate crimes, addressing the shrinking civic space, and advocating for the rights of LGBTQI people.

Read the interview with Dragoslava Barzut.

Valentyna Potapova, Ukraine

I became a human rights defender, not out of a conscious choice but because of being outraged by injustice, especially when it affects [children].

Valentyna Potapova is a human rights defender from Ukraine. She is the head of national advocacy direction at Centre of Civil Education “Almenda”, a member organisation of Human Rights House Crimea, which had to relocate from Crimea to Kyiv following Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014. Since then, Potapova’s work is focused on protecting the right to education of children remaining under occupation.

Read and watch the interview with Valentyna Potapova.

Yuliia Kishenko, Ukraine

We face a huge challenge to work with helping the victims [of war], to help move our country towards victory, while making sure that our children remain alive, mentally and physically healthy.

Yuliia Kishenko is a Ukrainian human rights defender and volunteer. She became part of the human rights movement over 10 years ago through her activism, when she joined “East SOS” – a volunteer movement that grew into a charitable fund supporting victims of war. In recent years Kishenko has focused on human rights in education, national advocacy and supporting civil society in war.

Read the interview with Yuliia Kishenko.