The Government has pledged €385,000 over a three-year period for an international foundation that protects human rights defenders, it was announced this week.
The support was announced by Minister of State Mr Tom Kitt at a seminar on human rights defenders hosted by the Irish EU presidency.
Mr Kitt said: "Few of us are ever called upon, or even more rarely volunteer, to put our lives on the line. Human rights defenders put their lives on the line, on our behalf, every day of the year. In doing so, they enhance the dignity of us all. When they are struck down, we are all diminished."
The seminar, hosted by Prof Kevin Boyle, was addressed by the UN Special Representative for Human Rights Defenders, Ms Hina Jilani.