Latest updates from ProtectDefenders.eu
ProtectDefenders.eu has received worrying information about the situation in Guinea. Civil society is facing ever-growing repression and the space for…
ProtectDefenders.eu has received concerning information regarding the judicial harassment of, and lack of protective measures for environmental rights defenders in…
One year after the Taliban captured power in Afghanistan, conditions for human rights defenders, especially women, have further deteriorated, FORUM-ASIA,…
ProtectDefenders.eu has received worrying information regarding the harassment and arrest of two defenders members of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union…
ProtectDefenders.eu has received concerning pieces of information regarding detention and attacks of LGBTQI+ defenders during Pride Events in Turkey. 373…
"Guidelines on enabling the environment for civil society and strong language on the protection of human rights defenders in the mandatory human rights and environmental due ...diligence likewise need to be developed." - Cristina Palabay #WHRD #RightToDefendHumanRights #mHRDD
🙏🏼 Thank you to all the Human Rights Defenders who participated in our Annual Meetings - for your generosity, courage, and inspiration.
🙏🏼Thank you to the 200+ ...hundred people who joined our celebration at the final conference.
You can relive the event👉https://bit.ly/3SOMga0
Thank you to all Human Rights Defenders who shared their messages of hope & resilience yesterday evening at @ProtectHRD_EU's conference.
Resources for human rights defenders
In this section you will find a compilation of useful resources for defenders, such as manuals, guides, toolkits, and public material produced by our extended network of partners and allied organisations defending HRDs.
It includes advocacy material, resources on European Union and international mechanisms, defending human rights, protection and security for HRDs – including a specific section on digital security – as well as specific resources for LGBTI+ defenders and women human rights defenders.
If you are an organisation or ally and want to contribute to this catalog of resources, you can contact us here.
Alternative funding for human rights defenders
Due to our specific mandate, ProtectDefenders.eu cannot support all human rights defenders in need. However, in this section you will find information about other funding organisations and partners that can provide support to human rights defenders at risk.
For financial support specifically on the topic of digital security please, see the dedicated section below.
Digital security for human rights defenders
The increased use of digital spaces by human rights defenders raises not only new opportunities for a more effective and impactful human rights defence work, but also an array of issues and risks. ProtectDefenders.eu has been adapting its programmes to allow defenders facing digital risks to find support for digital security.
How does ProtectDefenders.eu support Human Rights Defenders and local organisations facing digital risks?
Emergency Protection Grants
Defenders facing risks can apply for emergency and protection grants to cover digital security measures that includes, covering the cost of information technology (IT) equipment and other digital protection material, as well as following trainings on the matter of digital security.
During the year 2020, 30+ emergency grants were allocated for this purpose. A Ugandan journalist at risk was able to enhance his protection, including in digital security, thanks to an emergency grant for comprehensive support. Read about this story here.
Grant-making for organisations
Through this programme, ProtectDefenders.eu supports the consolidation of operational capacities of local human rights organisations, the expansion and capacity-building of these organisations. This means that local NGOs can access digital security measures, to respond to their IT and digital security needs.
In 2020, 15% of the grants to organisation aimed at reinforcing the security of these organisations, including digital security. Thanks to these grants, ProtectDefenders.eu partners, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), supported Syrian journalists from the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) so they could access IT and digital security support, among other type of support. Read this story here.
Temporary Relocation
ProtectDefenders.eu allocates grants to human rights defenders at risk so they can temporarily relocate in their country or abroad. During the relocation period and depending on the stay plan the host organisation and the HRD have agreed on, HRDs take part in different activities. These activities should be tailored to their needs; it often includes capacity-building activities and trainings in security, both physical and digital.
Training and capacity-development
Via our partners, ProtectDefenders.eu provides training, and long-term capacity development for Human Rights Defenders and local organisations to develop their protection skills, also in the field of digital security and protection.
Digital Security Actors Supporting Human Rights Organisations
In this section, you can find information on other actors who can provide specific financial and/or technical support to human rights defenders on the topic of digital security. If you wish to find additional resources, such as toolkits, guides or manuals on this topic, as well as the mapping of digital security actors supporting human rights organisations – developed by the EUTRP, you may find them in the resources table.
