On June 5, 2018, ProtectDefenders.eu organised a panel session at the European Development Days 2018, under the title 'Designing protection mechanisms that work for Women Human Rights Defenders'.
The session was moderated by Meerim Ilyas, a senior programme officer at Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights, and included the participation and testimonies of Christine-Astrig Mardirossian, Programme Manager at the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (DG DEVCO, European Commission), and human rights defenders Emilie de Wolf (Consorcio Oaxaca — Mexico), Weeam Youssef (Gulf Center for Human Rights — Lebanon/ Syria), and Aigerim Kamidola (Feminita — Kazakhstan).
Through relevant examples from the field and the experience and highlights of ProtectDefenders.eu, this session discussed how to respond to the specific challenges when supporting the work of women human rights defenders, and how to improve the design of rapid-response programmes and advocacy initiatives that focus their needs and specificities.
