“The resilience and drive of human rights defenders always impresses me deeply. Time and again, in my work I see how threatened human rights activists, working in incredibly difficult environments, show remarkable courage in the face of fear. I’m amazed how, despite their awful experiences, they have kept their faith in humanity and continued their struggle. And that gives me the energy, guidance and inspiration I need to work extra hard to advance human rights for all and a just, inclusive world.”

Dr. Bahia Tahzib-Lie is the Human Rights Ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In this capacity, she promotes human rights around the world. She carries out bilateral missions and attends multilateral meetings. She also works to boost dialogue with society on human rights in the Netherlands and abroad.

Twitter: @BTahzibLie