Latest updates from ProtectDefenders.eu
🚨Unprecedented repression against civil society in the aftermath of national elections and ahead of COP29 in #Azerbaijan
Hundreds of HRDs are behind bars for their opposition... towards the government, preventing free and constructive dialogue at COP29 https://tinyurl.com/2cs4ex3a
🚨Killing of environmental HRD and further repression of defenders working on land rights in #Honduras
Read our bulletin to know more about the escalating human rights ...situation in the country https://tinyurl.com/2cs4ex3a
🚨Violent repression continues amid one year of genocide in the #OPT
Human rights abuses continue against journalists and HRDs, as Israel has yet to be held accountable for the... severe violations occurred during its decades long occupation of Palestine. https://tinyurl.com/2cs4ex3a
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.
