Who Are Artist HRDs, and Why Do They Matter?
When we think of human rights defenders (HRDs), artists may not be the first people that come to mind. Yet under the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the term includes anyone who, individually or with others, “acts to promote or protect human rights in a peaceful manner”— many of whom are indeed artists. Artists who defend human rights through their craft are not a new phenomenon; they hold both rich history and diverse communities. Across the globe, artist-HRDs use creative mediums to raise awareness of human rights issues, mobilize social and political movements, and advocate for change. In doing so, they deserve recognition and protection just as well as other HRDs.
But why do artist-HRDs, in particular, deserve recognition? The answer is simple: Art has a unique way of moving people’s hearts and minds.
Creativity has been at the heart of countless social justice movements, giving voice to emotions that shape paths towards better futures. Art and activism often share the same goals—communicating new ideas, disrupting the status quo, and inspiring others. From protest music and poetry, to dissident theatre and subversive visual art, artists speak to our emotions in ways that traditional reports or legal arguments may not. They can amplify marginalized voices and shine light into spaces that may otherwise be kept in the dark. Recognizing artists as human rights defenders validates the power of culture and creativity in building a more just world.
Risks, Resilience, and Global Stories
Being an artist who speaks truth to power often comes with serious risks. Around the world, authoritarian regimes and extremist groups have targeted artists with censorship, harassment, imprisonment, and even assassination. Freemuse’s State of Artistic Freedom has documented a rise in repression of artists, and UNESCO reported that in 2021 alone at least 39 artists were killed across 12 countries, alongside over a thousand other violations of artistic freedom (UNESCO, 2023). Art can draw attention to important social and political issues and mobilize communities to take action—a power that repressive authorities recognize and seek to impede.
Despite these dangers, artists continue to stand up with remarkable resilience. Ai Weiwei, a Chinese artist famous for bold critiques of authoritarianism through his art, endured secret detention and surveillance, yet keeps creating provocative works in exile. Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land which chronicled settler violence in Masafer Yatta, faced violent retaliation shortly after the film’s international success. Ballal was assaulted by settlers and detained by Israeli forces—an act that sparked international outrage from those who recognized it as a grave violation of rights.
Many artist-HRDs also work together as a collective. The Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran has seen poets, singers, painters, filmmakers, and other artists join in protesting for women’s rights—many of whom were swiftly arrested, tortured, or blacklisted. The song Baraye, written by Shervin Hajipour, became a rallying anthem, winning a Grammy Award even as Hajipour was detained. These examples show how art doesn’t just showcase human rights struggles—it empowers the defending of them. And while some HRD artists are globally famous, many more remain farther from the spotlight of mainstream media, still carrying their activism at great risk.
The Connection to Canada
Canada has a rich history of artists using their craft as a medium of advocacy. During the rising social movements for women’s equality and Indigenous rights, artists have risen alongside them. Through their art, they “broke down barriers, challenged inequality, called on others to act and furthered human rights conversations in Canada and beyond” (Canadian Museum for Human Rights, 2019). From Nova Scotia’s Rita MacNeil uplifting the feminist movement with her songs, to Gord Downie’s multimedia Secret Path project educating Canadians about the tragic history of residential schools, to Métis artist Christi Belcourt , co-founder of the Onaman Collective, whose intricate paintings and public works advocate for Indigenous land defense and environmental justice—these creative works have vividly bridged understanding and inspired action.
Although there is certainly room for increased support, Canada also holds refuge and resources for threatened creatives. PEN Canada’s Writers in Exile program offers a supportive community for persecuted writers to continue their craft in safety, and the Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) connects persecuted artists to emergency funds, legal aid, and fellowships— along with advocating for policy reform. The Artist Protection Fund specifically focuses on funding residencies that place at-risk artists with safe host universities, and Canadian institutions such as OCAD are starting to engage with this opportunity. By hosting more artist-HRDs, Canadian universities can further live up to the “third mission” of fostering positive social impact.
How To Get Involved
Everyone can support artist-HRDs in diverse and meaningful ways. This can look like creating and learning about artistic activism through Amnesty International’s free online course Art & Activism, or reading reports like Art Is Power and The State of Artistic Freedom. We can also amplify artists’ voices by experiencing and sharing their work. Listening, watching, and attending or organizing exhibitions and events are all ways of showing solidarity. Supporting organizations dedicated to advocating for artists, such as ARC and Freemuse, is equally crucial for resilience. Universities, too, can take on a role by hosting HRD artists through the Artist Protection Fund, offering safe spaces where knowledge and creativity can be shared and expanded.
Recognizing and supporting human rights defender artists will always be vital for imagining and shaping a more just future. We cannot afford to undervalue their work or turn away. They—and their art—remind us that the human spirit can never truly be silenced, even in the darkest of times.
References
Ajam Media Collective. (2023, February 9). Baraye: Understanding Iran’s song of protest and compassion.https://ajammc.com/2023/02/09/baraye-irans-song-of-protest/
Amnesty International. (n.d.). Art and protest: Promoting human rights through creative expression [Online course]. Amnesty Human Rights Academy. https://academy.amnesty.org/learn/courses/370/art-and-protest-promoting-human-rights-through-creative-expression
Amnesty International Canada. (n.d.). Defending human rights with artistic activism. https://amnesty.ca/features/artistic-activism-human-rights/
Artists at Risk Connection. (n.d.). About ARC. https://artistsatriskconnection.org/about-arc/
Artists at Risk Connection. (2023, June 27). Art is power: 20 artists on how they fight for justice and inspire change.https://artistsatriskconnection.org/publication/art-is-power-20-artists-on-how-they-fight-for-justice-and-inspire-change/
Canadian Museum for Human Rights. (2019, July 10). Face the music: Canadian musicians and human rights.https://humanrights.ca/story/face-music-canadian-musicians-and-human-rights
Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. (n.d.). Rita MacNeil. https://www.cshf.ca/songwriter/rita-macneil/
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Human Rights Foundation. (2024, August 5). The silencing of dissident artists. https://hrf.org/latest/the-silencing-of-dissident-artists/
Institute of International Education. (n.d.). Artist Protection Fund. https://www.iie.org/programs/artist-protection-fund/
Neuman, S. (2021, April 7). Artist & activist: Ai Weiwei. New Tactics in Human Rights. https://www.newtactics.org/perspectives/artist-activist-ai-weiwei/
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (n.d.). About human rights defenders.https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-human-rights-defenders/about-human-rights-defenders
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2025). Minority artists, voice and dissidence.https://www.ohchr.org/en/minorities/minority-artists-voice-and-dissidence
PEN Canada. (n.d.). Writers in Exile. https://pencanada.ca/programs/writers-in-exile/
Secret Path. (2016). Secret path. https://secretpath.ca/
Sethi, S., & Bankston, J. (2024, October 2). It’s time Iran’s artists be considered as human rights defenders. Atlantic Council. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/iransource/iran-artists-human-rights-defenders/
The Guardian. (2025, March 25). Hamdan Ballal: Oscar-winning Palestinian director attacked by Israeli settlers and arrested. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/24/oscar-winning-palestinian-director-attacked-by-israeli-settlers-and-arrested
Time. (2023, February 6). Why Iran’s unofficial protest anthem “Baraye” won a Grammy. https://time.com/6253188/iran-grammys-shervin-hajipour/
UNESCO. (2023, May 26). UNESCO calls for more protection for artists under attack. UN News.