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 | Nepali | Mongolian
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