GRADENET members are Human Rights Defenders working at the grassroots.  GRADENET membership is open to all grassroots Human Rights Defenders and Activists regardless of sex, gender, race, sexual orientation, and economic status.  Our members include countless individuals, lawyers, women activists, community leaders, journalists, media producers, unionists and environmentalists and organizations who strive to reclaim rights and advocate for the promotion of freedoms, educating and raising awareness of situations and holding governments to account for their actions.  

Whether an individual works as a local government official, a policeman upholding the law or an Artist or leader using his or her position to highlight injustices, all can play a role in the advancement of human rights. We welcome them to our network.  A young person in a University who organizes other students to campaign for an end to torture in prisons or detention facilities is a human rights defender. An elder in a community who coordinates a demonstration by members of the community against illegal eviction of residents from their land by an investor is a human rights defender; A civil servant who reports corruption in his or her department or a politician who takes a stand against corruption within a Government are all human rights defenders because of their role to promote and protect good governance and certain rights that are threatened by such corruption; a Woman who mobilizes other women to urgently influence the review process of critical laws and work to ensure that the laws address the needs of the women on the ground and respond to the realities of gender-based violence against women in various spheres including domestic labor is a Human Rights Defender.  

A young girl who leads a campaign to put an end to the exploitation of domestic workers majority of whom are young women by bringing the draft law in line with standards set by the International Labour Organization is a Human Rights Defender.  A leader, who organizes a demonstration against continued violations of the rights of People with Disabilities or campaigns against the exploitation of minorities like the Batwa-an Indigenous group of people is Human Rights Defender. Journalists, media producers and bloggers who raise human rights issues and injustices taking place in government and communities using their platforms are also Human Rights Defenders.  
GRADENET welcomes all these kinds of Human Rights Defenders into its membership