Prisoner of Conscience: a person who is persecuted for the non-violent act of protecting or advancing human rights.
We are a UK-based charity providing both financial and practical assistance to prisoners of conscience and human rights defenders. We believe that no-one should be persecuted, silenced, tortured or forced to flee their country for protecting or advancing human rights. Who’s with us?
Join the movement to #UnlockFreedom this April
Tens of thousands of people around the world are still fighting for their basic rights and freedoms—and you have the power to make a difference. This April, take on a challenge that supports freedom and stand with those whose voices need to be heard.
Whether you’re ready to try a new skill or reignite your fitness routine by running, walking or swimming for human rights, there’s a way for everyone to get involved.
How we support human rights globally
Hardship Grants
Lina, a human rights activist from Afghanistan, was threatened and detained by the Taliban after protesting against their repression of women’s rights. For months afterwards she lived in hiding, fearing for her and her family’s lives.
Prisoners of Conscience provided Lina with an emergency grant which enabled her to flee to a neighbouring country and continue her human rights work.
Family Reunion Grants
Reny is an engineer and pastor from the DRC. In 2017, he reported on human rights violations by the government during a military conflict. This open reporting led him to be questioned and tortured by the Intelligence Service for over a week. Fearing for his life, Reny decided to flee alone to the UK after the ordeal.
PoC awarded Reny a grant to help him bring his wife and children to the UK allowing them to rebuild their lives together.
Requalification Bursaries
Mohamad is a solicitor from Syria who advocated for the release of those prosecuted for expressing their political views. Syrian security forces detained him for doing so, and tortured him for over a week. Mohamad was forced to escape the country after being released.
After arriving in the UK, Mohamad was keen to rebuild his family’s life, and continue legal practice. With the help of a PoC requalification bursary grant, Mohamad completed his legal conversion studies and has managed to secure a training contract to qualify as a solicitor.
Our Charitable Objects and Theory of Change
Our vision is a world in which prisoners of conscience and human rights defenders are able to live in safety and with self-determination to uphold and advance human rights. See our charitable objects and theory of change here.
Will you join us?
Supporting a prisoner of conscience in need could be as simple as signing up.
Join our Cause
By signing up, you’ll join a community of human rights champions standing up against injustice. Show those who risk their lives for human rights that they are not alone.
Sign up to our e-mail list now to receive the latest updates on our work, including inspiring stories, ways to take action and opportunities to make a difference.
*We promise to never pass on your details and you can unsubscribe at any time.
What you can do:
Donate
Without your donations, we couldn’t do the work that we do. Give the gift of hope to those who defend human rights.
Volunteer with us
Take your support to the next level.
US visitor?
Having previously received donations from US supporters, we could readily work with you to reinstate our equivalency determination and NGO source accreditation.
Jory’s Story
Get in touch
If you have any queries about our work, if you would like to be added to our mailing list, or if you would like us to update the details we currently hold for you, please contact us in the office (Monday to Friday)
Letters, donations and other post can be sent to
Prisoners of Conscience Appeal Fund, Alpha House, 100 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1LB
Give us a ring
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7407 6644
For grant enquiries: 02038595244
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7407 6655
Email us
For general enquiries, contact: info@prisonersofconscience.org
For grants and assistance contact: grantsofficer@prisonersofconscience.org