Mahnaz Parakand is an Iranian human rights defender and lawyer. She has been arrested, imprisoned and sentenced to death and had to leave Iran, and yet she continues to fight for the rights of Iranian women. On the occasion of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, she tells what keeps her standing up for human rights.

Women, girls and people with diverse gender identities continue to face barriers to the freedom of opinion and expression. Female politicians, journalists, human rights defenders and activists are particularly targeted. Governments and social media platforms must do more to end gender-based harassment and violence both online and offline.