Resources for Defenders
These are some resources for human rights defenders on how they can assess risks, manage security, and receive protection support. These have been produced by different organisations and are available in different languages.
Section one offers links to manuals, tool kits and guides.
Section two provides information on other protection resources, such as emergency grants, relocation grants, funding for human rights work, online training, and fellowship schemes.
Section three provides links to key documents related to the protection of defenders.
Section One: Manuals, Toolkits, Guides
These manuals help defenders to assess the risks and threats they face, identify their vulnerabilities and capacities, and develop action plans to prevent and to respond to threats and attacks. They cover different aspects of security, including physical security, digital security, and emotional well-being.
Click on the pictures to access the materials.
Front Line Defenders: Workbook on Security
This manual is available in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese, Urdu and Dari.
Integrated Security: The Manual
This manual helps facilitators to run workshops for defenders that help them to increase their awareness of security, shift attitudes towards protection, and develop sustainable protection strategies. It is available in English.
Tactical Technology Collective: Holistic Security - A Manual for Human Rights Defenders
This guide to safety and well-being focuses on how to integrate digital security, psycho-social well-being, and organisational security practices. It is available in English.
Toolkit for Latin American Women Human Rights Defenders Working on Land and Environmental Issues
This online resource introduces protection resources available to defenders at risk. These include a guide to organisations that protect defenders; awards; fellowship schemes; emergency grants; manuals and guides, etc. It is available in English and Spanish
Security-in-a-Box
These guides to digital security explain the risks that defenders face through the use of computers, mobile phones, the internet, and other devices. They also focus on data security and privacy. They are available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, and Bahasa Indonesia.
PBI UK and Simmons & Simmons launch toolbox for defenders working on business and human rights
The Toolbox comprises a range of fact sheets on specific legal topics to assist human rights defenders around the world with their imperative work. The fact sheets focus on the obligations of companies to respect human rights, as set out in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Click here
Section Two: Other Protection Resources
ProtectDefender.eu provides defenders at risk with emergency grants; temporary relocation grants; training; and funding for human rights work.
The Human Rights Defender Hub at the Centre for Applied Human Rights
CAHR offers a number of resources for human rights defenders at risk, including: an online distance learning programme; a Protective Fellowship Scheme; a Working Papers series; research projects; and regular workshops bringing scholars, practitioners and defenders together to reflect on the development of the protection regime for defenders at risk.
Section Three: Key Documents
The Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (known as the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders) sets out principles and rights related to the right to defend human rights. It is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia and Kiswahili.
The European Union Guidelines on Support to Human Rights Defenders provides guidance to EU MIssions on how they can support and protect defenders at risk in non-EU countries. It is available in multiple languages, including English and Spanish.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders has a complaints mechanism for defenders at risk, and reports regularly to the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. These reports are available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Arabic.
The UNSR Michel Forst published the WORLD REPORT ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS in December 2018 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Societ to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Its purpose is to identify the main areas of progress and the remaining challenges that need to be addressed inrelation to the implementation of the Declaration.