The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) was founded in 1972 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany to advocate for and is now represented in over 40 countries. The ISHR is an independent non-profit and non-governmental organization that advocates for people who are non-violently engaged in the realization of human rights in their countries or who are persecuted for claiming their rights. Though it began as a single organization in Germany, it has expanded into a network of affiliated civil society groups and NGOs located in over 40 countries, who defend the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights worldwide. The ISHR has Consultative Status (Roster) with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, as well as Associated Status with the UN Department of Public Information (DPI). The ISHR headquarters in Germany is primarily financed through membership fees, private donations, and grants; most other sections are run by activists who volunteer their time.