“There’s this streak of sacrifice in our culture” says Davide Zaveri, coordinator of the Salvagente project in Italy. “We Italians first focus on helping others in need – and need to overcome this reflex before we start thinking of our own security.”  The Salvagente (‘Lifejacket’) project overcomes this reflex. It invited Protection International to Turin this week to share its expertise and support the Salvagente team’s security planning.   Salvagente [...]

Protection International (PI) is seeking to recruit a representative for its work in and from the East & Horn of Africa. PI is an international non-profit organization researching strategies and security management tools that protect human rights defenders and sharing its expertise in this area with people at risk for their human rights work all around the world. PI sees human rights defenders as agents of change who form a [...]

Brussels March 27th 2013 Protection International welcomes the adoption of a new and important resolution on human rights defenders at the 22nd Session of the United Nation Human Rights Council on 21 March 2013. “Criminalization puts the ax to the roots of the human rights movement in so many countries. It’s important that the Human Rights Council takes clear position” says Luis Enrique Eguren, Chair of Protection International’s Board. The [...]

With a view to extending its financial capacity, PI is looking for a Fundraiser, who would work under the direct supervision of the Responsible for Finances and of the Executive Committee. Download the full job description.   Key responsibilities:  To work within the mandate of PI and follow the principles of Impartiality and non- partisanship To work in a team with fundraiser, finance controller and administrators of PI Head office To [...]

In Central America, insecurity and violence have been on the rise in recent years. In this context, women’s rights are increasingly at risk. In Honduras alone, gender-based violence is the second highest cause of death for women of reproductive age. In Mexico and Guatemala, the levels of violence against women continue to escalate. Moreover, women human rights defenders (WHRDs) face increasing difficulties to carry out their work. To counter this [...]

Muhuri (Muslims for Human Rights) is a Muslim organization that promotes human rights in Kenya. Their activity involves several actions such as visiting prisons, promoting women rights as well as the rights of indigenous peoples. In the run-up to the presidential elections scheduled for 4 March 2013, Muhuri has focused its work on preparing their observation. Several members of the organisation have been attacked. Therefore, Muhuri requested the intervention of PI. [...]

On March 6, Protection International will present its latest documentary, The Law of the Strongest, in the office of the International Service for Human Rights (from 3pm to 5pm – Rue de Varembé, 1 – Geneva). The documentary, which is available online, proposes an account of the work of Honduran human rights defenders, both in rural and urban areas. It also tackles the numerous challenges, threats and intimidation attempts they [...]

Protection International is looking for an Executive Director. You can download the full job description here or consult it below.   JOB DESCRIPTION Job title: Executive Director Location: Brussels, Belgium Works as member of: Executive Committee / Legal Representative Reports to: Board of Directors Key objectives and responsibilities: The Executive Director leads the organisation’s development and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the organisation.   Strategic Planning and Organisational Development: [...]

On November 26, 2012, PI will present its latest documentary, La Ley del más fuerte (The law of  the strongest), with the support of CIFCA and FIDH. It covers the situation of human rights defenders in Honduras and especially in the region of Bajo Aguán. The screening is only in Spanish, but the video will be made available with English subtitles in the coming months. The screening will be followed [...]

Protection International is pleased to announce that the 2nd edition of the “Postgraduate Diploma on Integral Protection for Human Rights Defenders and Social Activists” will begin in January 2013. It is organised jointly with the Universidad Pablo de Olavide. This Diploma is the first of its kind, since it is the only international Postgraduate Diploma addressing the need to protect defenders. The course addresses that protection in a comprehensive way, [...]

Between June and August 2012, Americano-Czech photographer Jana Ašenbrennerová spent some time with our team at the Protection Desk Congo. Here’s the best-of.   Protection Desk officer Balzac Buzerwa training a local organization Bukavu’s human rights defenders exchanging during a training. Bukavu’s defenders during an Ask&Answer session at their office with PI protection officers. Team building exercise in a protection training.

On July 31st, 2005, Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi, a Congolese human rights defender, Executive Secretary of the NGO “Héritiers de la Justice (Heirs of Justice) was shot dead in Bukavu, at his house and in front of his family, by a group of men wearing military clothes. He had denounced severe human rights violations (such as war crimes) perpetrated by rebel groups and the Congolese army. Until today, the case is [...]

Brussels, 10 July 2012 Protection International and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya, held the roundtable “National mechanisms and national public policies for the protection of human rights defenders: Reflections on current developments and ways ahead” in Geneva, Switzerland, last 18 June. The roundtable provided an opportunity for taking stock of current experiences of human rights defenders (HRDs), governments and international and [...]