Human rights defenders risk their lives and livelihoods to promote the protections enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Here are some of their stories:

Munir Saib Thalib, one of Indonesia’s foremost human rights defenders, is poisoned on a flight to the Netherlands in 2004; his wife Suciwati tells his story of fearless human rights advocacy and her struggle for justice.

Roula Al-Saffar, the head of the Bahrain Nursing Society, subjected to torture while in government custody during the 2011 government crackdown.

Zainab Al Khawaja, Bahraini pro-democracy activist speaks about her father’s detention and the situation for human rights defenders in Bahrain.

Franklin Castañeda Villacob, director of the Political Prisoners Solidarity Committee, discusses the difficulties for human rights defenders in Colombia and detained human rights activist Principe Gabriel Gonzalez. (Spanish)

Basem Fathy, Egyptian democracy activist, recounts the atmosphere in Tahrir Square after the fall of dictator Hosni Mubarak and the path forward to democracy in the midst of the Arab Spring.

Dr. Nada Dhaif, a Bahraini medic, mother and human rights defender, reflects on her experience since February 14th. (Video from FrontLine Defenders, 2011)

Jalila Salman, the Vice President for the Bahrain Teachers Association, recounts her arrest and torture by Bahraini authorities during the 2011 crackdown. (Video from Front Line Defenders)

Dr. Mahmoud Asghar, one of many medical professionals arrested, speaks about his detention, torture, and the lack of fair trial standards in Bahrain. (Video from Front Line Defenders)

Dr. Fatima Hajji, a Bahraini doctor and human rights defender, reflects on how the environment has changed for the medical community since February 2011. (Video from Front Line Defenders)

Dr. Nabil Hameed, one of three neurosurgeons in Bahrain, discusses his medical suspension and the danger it places on the population at-large. (Video from Front Line Defenders)

Dr. Ghassan Dhaif and Dr. Zahra Al-Sammak, a married couple that are both medical professionals, talk about the timeline of their medical careers and the influence the international community had on improving trial standards.

Maryam Abu Dheeb, daughter of the Bahrain Teachers Association President, describes the detention and torture of her father and the risks she and her family face. (Video from Front Line Defenders)