HRD Protection Resources

The Special Rapporteur cannot provide physical protection to human rights defenders or funding to support their activities. However, there are organisations who can provide this support. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you would like to recommend other resources that might be useful for human rights defenders.

Emergency Protection

ProtectDefenders.eu: https://protectdefenders.eu/protecting-defenders/

Front Line Defenders: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/emergency-contact

Civil Rights Defenders Emergency Fund: https://crd.org/emergency-fund/

Lifeline provides small, short-term emergency grants to civil society organisations threatened because of their human rights work. See: https://www.csolifeline.org/emergency-assistance

Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund – Safety Net is for individual women human rights defenders (WHRD) from/working in conflict and crisis-affected countries who face risks threatening their safety and/or ability to sustain their work. See: https://wphfund.org/whrds-safety-net/

Freedom House – The Dignity for All program provides emergency funds, support, and security assistance to human rights defenders and organizations under threat or attack due to their work for LGBTQI+ human rights. See: https://freedomhouse.org/programs/LGBTI-assistance

Urgent Action Fund – Security and well-being grants are available to women and non-binary human rights defenders and organisations in Asia and the Pacific in order to respond to their immediate or time-urgent needs for security and well-being. See: https://www.uafanp.org/security-and-well-being-grants

List of organisations providing grants for Human Rights Defenders: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/resource-publication/other-funding-organisations

CIVICUS curated a list of rapid response mechanisms providing timely support for activists, civil society organisations and small, informal civil society groups’ response to attacks, sudden emergencies, crises or advocacy opportunities and to avoid and mitigate threats. See: https://www.civicus.org/documents/rapid-response-directory-2023_en.pdf

Relocation

List of organisations providing relocation / respite: https://ecosystem.openbriefing.org/

Shelter City Initiative: https://sheltercity.org/

Africa – Ubuntu Hub Cities: Relocation and support for Human Rights Defender at risk in Africa: https://africandefenders.org/what-we-do/hub-cities/

For Human Rights Defenders in Afghanistan – MADRE produced a guide compiling information on the process of crossing borders for Afghan women/human rights defenders: https://www.madre.org/press-publications/madre-article/madre-launches-vital-resource-tools-afghan-women-human-rights [Available in English, Pashto and Dari]

Legal support

American Bar Association pro-bono legal support, Justice Defenders Programme: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/human_rights/justice_defenders/request-assistance/

Security Support

General Security tips: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/resource-publication/workbook-security-practical-steps-human-rights-defenders-risk

Digital Security Helpline: https://www.accessnow.org/help/

The OHCHR South-East Asia Regional Office issued a series of digital security tips for human rights defenders in South-East Asia. See: https://bangkok.ohchr.org/civic-space/

Other: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/digital-security-resources

Other Grants

Small grants (up to 5,000 USD) for projects in the Global South preventing risks for HRDs raising rights violations in projects funded by development banks: https://rightsindevelopment.org/news/open-call-for-proposals-defenders-in-development-policy-grants/ 

Spanish, Russian, Arabic, French, Portuguese submissions can be made here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bgGZYfBwSxFK-0xdoL67uW6UmlfIViWD/edit#

Mental Health

Resources on mental health and well-being: https://www.hhri.org/thematic-page-post/hr-defenders-subheading/mental-health-related-issues/

Talking about mental health: A handbook for civil society: https://www.rights-practice.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=933fa839-9a55-4d80-80c0-4a097cc023b6

Accessing the UN

What can the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders do? [VIDEO] – https://srdefenders.org/the-mandate/the-special-rapporteur/what-the-special-rapporteur-can-cant-do/

Series of practical guides, explaining which UN mechanisms you should contact, and how to get in touch: https://www.ohchr.org/en/aboutus/pages/civilsociety.aspx

ISHR Practical Guide the UN Special Procedures https://www.ishr.ch/sites/default/files/documents/a_practical_guide_to_the_un_special_procedures_final.pdf

ISHR Academy on UN institutions: https://academy.ishr.ch/

Tools for Collective Protection

Earth Defenders Toolkit: https://www.earthdefenderstoolkit.com/home/

Full catalog of resources, tools, manuals and trainings for human rights defenders: https://collective-protection.info/

HRD Legislation

Model Law on HRDs by ISHR – English | Spanish | French | Russian | Arabic | NepaliMongolian

Map of States with national legal protection for HRDs: https://ishr.ch/defenders-toolbox/national-protection/

Other resources for HRDs

Freedom lab – training materials, tutorials, and digital tools for human rights defenders: https://freedomlab.io/

List of further protection programmes for HRDs by Human Rights First: https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/sites/default/files/HRF-Defenders-Resources.pdf

Protection Manual for Human Rights Defenders by Protection International: https://www.protectioninternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Protection-Manual-3rd-Edition.pdf

Handbooks, Resources and Training Manuals by Front Line Defenders: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/resources-hrds

The Counter by SOMO supports communities seeking to find out about the corporate structures of specific companies through investigations: https://www.somo.nl/the-counter/

La Rapporteuse spéciale ne peut ni assurer la protection physique des défenseur.e.s des droits humains ni financer leurs activités. D’autres groupes peuvent toutefois apporter leur aide. N’hésitez pas à nous contacter pour nous recommander d’autres ressources qui pourraient être utiles aux défenseur.e.s des droits humains.

Protection d’urgence

ProtectDefenders.eu: https://protectdefenders.eu/protecting-defenders/

Front Line Defenders: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/fr/emergency-contact

Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund – Le filet de sécurité est destinée aux femmes défenseures des droits humains (FDDH) issues de / travaillant dans des pays touchés par des conflits et des crises qui font face à des risques menaçant leur sécurité et/ou leur capacité à poursuivre leur travail. Voir : https://wphfund.org/fr/whrds-filet-de-securite/

Liste d’organisations qui proposent des subventions dédiées aux défenseurs des droits humains : https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/resource-publication/other-funding-organisations

Sécurité

Sécurité générale: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/fr/resource-publication/workbook-security-practical-steps-human-rights-defenders-risk

Sécurité digitale

Plateforme D’Assistance pour la Securité Numerique: https://www.accessnow.org/help-fr

Autres: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/fr/digital-security-resources

Interaction avec l’ONU

ISHR Practical Guide the UN Special Procedures https://www.ishr.ch/sites/default/files/documents/a_practical_guide_to_the_un_special_procedures_final.pdf

ISHR Academy on UN institutions: https://academy.ishr.ch/

D’autres ressources pour les DDH

List of further protection programmes for HRDs by Human Rights First: https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/sites/default/files/HRF-Defenders-Resources.pdf

Protection Manual for Human Rights Defenders by Protection International https://www.protectioninternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Protection-Manual-3rd-Edition.pdf

Handbooks, Resources and Training Manuals by Front Line Defenders: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/fr/resources-hrds

La Relatora Especial no puede proporcionar protección física a las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos, ni financiación para apoyar sus actividades. Sin embargo, existen grupos que pueden proporcionar esta ayuda.  No dude en ponerse en contacto con nosotros si desea recomendar otros recursos que puedan ser útiles para personas defensoras de derechos humanos.

Protección en casos de emergencia

ProtectDefenders.eu: https://protectdefenders.eu/protecting-defenders/

Front Line Defenders: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/es/emergency-contact

Lista de organizaciones que proporcian financiación para apoyar a las personas defensoras de derechos humanos: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/es/resource-publication/additional-grant-resources

Reubicación

Lista de organizaciones que facilitan reubicación o programas de descanso y respiro: https://ecosystem.openbriefing.org/

Asistencia jurídica

Apoyo jurídico gratuito de American Bar Association: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/human_rights/justice_defenders/request-assistance/

Seguridad

Manual de seguridad: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/es/resource-publication/workbook-security-practical-steps-human-rights-defenders-risk

Seguridad Digital

Línea de Ayuda en Seguridad Digital: https://www.accessnow.org/help-es

Otro: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/es/node/1697

Salud Mental

(México y Colombia) Integración de un enfoque psicosocial en proyectos de defensa de derechos humanos: https://www.alunapsicosocial.org/

Como acceder a la ONU

¿Qué puede hacer la Relator Especial sobre las personas defensoras de derechos humanos? – https://srdefenders.org/the-mandate/the-special-rapporteur/what-the-special-rapporteur-can-cant-do/

Academia de ISHR: https://academy.ishr.ch/?lang=es

Recursos y Toolkits

“Earth Defenders Toolkit” para personas defensoras del medio ambiente y la tierra: https://www.earthdefenderstoolkit.com/inicio/?lang=es

Legislación sobre personas defensoras

Ley Modelo de ISHR: https://ishr.ch/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ISHR_resource_modellaw_2017_spanish.pdf

Otros recursos para personas defensoras de derechos humanos

Freedom Lab – materiales de formación, tutoriales y herramientas digitales para personas defensoras de los derechos humanos: https://freedomlab.io/

Manual de protección para las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos – Protection International: https://www.protectioninternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Nuevo_Manual_Proteccion.pdf

Manuales, recursos y trainings de Front Line Defenders: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/es/resources-hrds